Remember just a few months ago, when the topic of conversation was the desire for sun and warmer temperatures? As they say, “Be careful what you wish for.”
Lately the heat index has been causing heat advisories, with officials urging residents to stay indoors for much of the day. Being out in these hot conditions for extended periods could lead to heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke, even if you can stand the heat, you do not want to stand out in it for too long. Just last year, extreme heat was the second leading cause of weather related fatalities in the United States, just behind flooding. Temperatures hovered in the 90’s for the first part of this week, and are
expected to “cool” down to the upper 80’s for a few days, courtesy of some thunderstorms. But after a brief reprieve, they are expected to yet again raise right back to the 90’s by the middle of next week. Coupled with the humidity, these intermittent heat waves have given us some of the toughest summer days this year.
While the elderly and those who are sick are at greater risk of succumbing to heat-related ailments, even healthy adults should take precautions against these merciless temperatures. Heat stroke, the most serious of summertime illnesses, can present symptoms of an actual stroke, such as confusion, dizziness, and slurred speech. Should you notice these symptoms in anyone, call for help immediately and try to get the person out of the heat and get some water into them.
For your safety, here are some tips that may help you and your loved ones avoid any heat-related ailments for the rest of the season:
First, never, ever leave a child or pet in a vehicle, even for a brief period. Drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day can lessen the risk of developing heat exhaustion. Stay hydrated, choosing water over dehydrating iced coffee or soda, aiming to drink about half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially those who are older or disabled, who don’t have air conditioning or a means of keeping cool. If you don’t have air conditioning on days with extreme temperatures, find a place you can go to that does, such as a mall, library, or museum. And finally, avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of
the day, if not for the entire day.
Of course, summer is still very much a time for fun in the sun, and there should still be plenty of opportunities for that. Until then, you should take the proper precautions to avoid being caught in the summer danger zone of extreme heat conditions. Don’t risk your health for your daily run or to
get a little extra yard work out of the way. And just think – when the snow comes some of us will be talking about how we’d take these days back in an instant. As they say, “The grass is always
greener…”