Beat the heat: As temperatures rise, take precautions
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When soon-to-be high school juniors Isaiah Scott and Daniel Theys came to the Hollidaysburg stadium Friday afternoon to practice soccer, they waited awhile in a car for a cloudburst to subside.
After it did, the boys were rewarded with a temperature about 10 degrees cooler than the approximately 90 that preceded the rain -- creating a brief preview for the weather that should prevail in this area in the coming days and weeks.
While the temperature was high and the dew point a sticky, uncomfortable 70 degrees Friday, today will be pleasant, with a cold front moving in and highs in the 80s, and then, through the first couple of weeks in August, temperatures that may peak in the high 70s and drop into the 50s at night, according to meteorologist Steve Travis of the National Weather Service in State College.
Still, it's mid-summer, with more hot weather sure to come, and days like Friday can be dangerous without precautions, according to Dr. David Burwell, regional chief quality officer for UPMC.
The concerns are heat exhaustion at the low extreme and heat stroke at the other end, according to Burwell.
Heat stroke can kill, he said.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include tiredness, muscle cramps, difficulty focusing, clammy skin and nausea, according to Burwell.
Heat stroke symptoms can mean body temperatures of 104 degrees or higher, a fast pulse, dizziness, confusion, sometimes loss of consciousness, vomiting and "altered mental status," Burwell said.
Heat stroke can be connected both with exertion, as in an athletic event, or without -- when victims are subject to excessive heat over an extended period, Burwell said.
If someone is experiencing heat exhaustion, the milder version of heat-related illness, they should be helped to a cool place -- into an air conditioned space or even shade, Burwell said. Their clothes should be loosened and cool, wet cloths, even ice, should be placed on their body's central regions -- such as the armpits and the groin, Burwell said. They should be given cool drinks to sip, he said.
If someone is throwing up from the heat, if their symptoms are worsening or lasting longer than an hour, or if they're displaying confusion or have fainted, immediate medical help should be sought, either by taking the victim to an emergency department or by calling 911, Burwell said.
Children under 5 and seniors over 65 are at higher risk for heat-related illness, because their bodies are less capable of regulating internal temperatures, Burwell said.
People on some types of medications, including those for blood pressure and diabetes, are also at increased risk, Burwell said.
Anyone subject to hot weather should minimize its effects with lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that can wick away sweat, Burwell said.
They should stay well-hydrated with water or sports drinks, he said. It's best to sip frequently, even when you don't feel thirsty, because in hot weather, you lose moisture not only from sweating, but breathing, he said. Alcoholic drinks aren't good for hydration, so if you're drinking alcohol, hydrate with water or a sports drink between each alcoholic drink, Burwell advised. Eat high-water content summer fruits like watermelons, cantaloupes, grapefruit, cucumbers, strawberries and zucchini, as a hydration aid, he added.
One can always stay inside in air conditioning, but there are lots of activities to draw us out, including sporting events, county fairs and car shows, Burwell said.
In some cases, people can schedule such events for the morning or evening, when it's cooler, he said.
Our region hasn't had an unduly hot summer yet, in contrast to areas in the south and southwest of the U.S., so our bodies haven't adapted to extreme hot weather, like the people who live in those areas, Burwell said.
"Our bodies are pretty amazing (in their ability) to acclimate, but it needs to happen over time," he said. That takes weeks and even months, he said.
Adaptations include changes in the kidneys, heart and skin related to fluids and electrolytes, he said.
With the recent warm weather here, Isaiah and Daniel have been taking countermeasures, including spraying or even dumping water on themselves on the field, they said.
They were shirtless Friday, as they got ready to go through the gates.
"Shirts off is a big one," Daniel said.
They've sometimes gone to do their kicks and passes in the shade behind nearby Longer Elementary School, Isaiah said.
And they stay hydrated.
They also plan ahead, practicing at cooler times when they can -- although the morning wasn't available on Friday, Daniel said.
Isaiah is a veteran of heat, having lived for a time in Dubai, where he played outfield on a baseball team.
It got as hot as 110 degrees, Isaiah said.
It got so hot that his baseball glove would slide off his hand, if he held it down without being careful, he said.
"It was terrible," he said of playing in that weather. "It sucked."
The Blair County Department of Emergency Services monitors the local heat index routinely, according to department Director Mark Taylor.
The county's municipal emergency management coordinators are primarily responsible for opening cooling centers, especially if there is a power outage, Taylor said.
No cooling centers have been opened in Blair this summer so far, Taylor said.
A couple were made available last year, he said.
The county's emergency alert system will inform residents if there's a need, he said.
The city determines whether to open a cooling center based on the extent and duration of power outages, said Fire Chief Adam Free, Altoona's emergency management coordinator.
His department would probably arrange with churches or schools to create such a center, he said.
If an outage were to occur throughout the county, the Blair County Convention Center would most likely be used, Free said.
While cold weather can lead to using appliances in homes that can create a fire hazard when plugged into improper devices, hot weather can create a similar issue, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Always plug portable air conditioners directly into a wall receptacle -- not an extension cord or power strip, the organization states in a news release.
There have been instances in the city where power strips into which portable air conditioners were plugged have overheated and caught fire, Free said.
Pets can be at risk in hot weather, according to the Humane Society of the U.S.
Pet owners should limit the duration and intensity of pets' exercise on hot days, favoring the mornings and evenings and being careful not to let paws get burned on hot asphalt, according to the organization.
Owners should be alert for heatstroke, the symptoms of which include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst and vomiting, according to the organization.
Dogs' temperature shouldn't exceed 104 degrees, the organization states.
If you suspect heatstroke, call a veterinarian right away, and meanwhile, move your pet into the shade or an air conditioned space, apply ice packs or cold towels to the head neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over them -- while letting them drink small amounts of cool water or else lick ice cubes, according to the organization.
Dogs such as pugs with short muzzles and animals that are very old, very young, overweight or with heart or breathing problems are especially susceptible to heat illness, according to the organization.
Owners should provide plenty of shade and water for outside animals, with plenty of airflow -- which a doghouse doesn't provide, according to the organization.
Never leave a pet inside a car, because it can become lethally hot very quickly, according to the organization.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.