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August 1, 2008

Weather service warns of potentially harmful heat

By Wally Kennedy

wkennedy@joplinglobe.com

The next few days could be the hottest days of the year.

But whether the mercury will peak at 100 or hotter remains to be seen.

“It could get real close, especially in Southeast Kansas,’’ said Ryan Kardell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service station in Springfield.

Kardell said the heat will gradually intensify through Monday and that Monday afternoon could see the mercury peak at 99 degrees in the Joplin area.

“We have issued a heat advisory for the eastern portion of Southeast Kansas and the first tier of counties across the state line in Southwest Missouri,’’ he said.

The heat advisory will be in effect until at least Tuesday.

Humid conditions will prevail across the region. The heat index, the combined impact of heat and humidity on a person’s body, could be near 105 degrees during the afternoon hours through Tuesday.

“Consecutive days of high heat can have an accumulative effect on people leading to heat illnesses,’’ said Kardell. “When it’s hot and the humidity is high, heat illnesses are possible.’’

Based on the National Weather Service’s prediction of continued temperatures in the upper 90s, the Newton County Health Department issued a hot weather health advisory on Friday.

Severe heat may cause heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To protect yourself against heat-related illness, the department is recommending that people:

Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.

Avoid strenuous work or exercise outside during the hottest part of the day.

Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

Avoid drinks containing alcohol or caffeine.

Check on the elderly, young children and pets.

Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked vehicle.

Do not rely on fans as your primary cooling device. If you do not have air conditioning, visit a shopping center, public library or other air-conditioned structure.

Avoid sitting directly in front of a fan. Fans re-circulate room air and may actually increase your body temperature and your risk of heat-related illness.

Check with your pharmacist or doctor to find out if medication you are taking puts you at increased risk for heat-related illness.

The department said the signs and symptoms of heat stress or heat exhaustion are heavy sweating, dizziness, fainting, growing pale, headache, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, exhaustion or weakness.





Heat danger

Casey Himmelsbach, public health educator for the Newton County Health Department, said each year more people in the United States die of extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined.

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