Remove clutter as well as electric and telephone cords from walkways. Install hand rails on steps, and put a strip of brightly colored tape on the top and bottom steps. Arrange items in cabinets so that they are easy to reach. Heat cramps, the least severe, are often the first signal that the body is having trouble with the heat. They are painful muscle spasms that usually occur in the legs and abdomen.
Heat exhaustion is a more severe condition than heat cramps.
It most often occurs in individuals who ignore the signals of heat exhaustion. This condition develops when the body systems become overwhelmed by heat and begin to stop functioning. Victims need medical attention immediately. Recognizing heat-related illness in its early stages and taking the right steps to treat it can reverse its effects. An air-conditioned area would be best.