The real summer heat has arrived a little early this year, as an excessive heat warning is in effect for today and this evening, and the National Weather Service says highs will be in the mid- to high 90s for the rest of the week so more such alerts are possible.
Who knows how the whole summer will play out, but the high-heat advice is worth bearing in mind in the weeks ahead.
First, take it easy. Cut down on the strenuous outdoor activity, and drink plenty of fluids – preferably good old water with an ice cube or two.
It’s important to avoid heat exhaustion, symptoms of which can include heavy perspiring, fatigue, pale skin, headache, dizziness and nausea. Breathing can become shallow and fast, and the pulse can become weak and fast; this can progress into heat stroke. If you’re out mowing the lawn and you start noticing these symptoms, go inside, drink something non-alcoholic, take a shower and rest for awhile.
Speaking of mowing the lawn – there’s a lot of that right now with the wet spring and now the hot, sunny days – there’s something else we can all do to help. The high temperatures raise the risk of poor air quality in large cities because of ozone from things such as autos and lawnmowers.
The Mid-America Regional Council posts a daily air-quality index and a “skycast” for Kansas City. Hot as it was on Sunday, the air quality was rated as good, that is, green on the scale. By Monday it was orange – that is, an ozone alert – and the forecast for today is the same.
So it’s best during these alerts to combine trips and drive a little less. Gas up the car after sundown. The Mid-America Regional Council even suggests that when there is an ozone alert – orange or red – you put off using tools such as gas-powered mowers and weed trimmers until the alert is over. For the sake of your lungs, it’s best to do any needed outdoor activities before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
Summertime brings up images of lazily sitting under a good shade tree with a glass of cold lemonade. It’s not a bad idea.
Ozone and air quality information from the Mid-America Regional Council
www.marc.org/Environment/airQ/ozone-info
Heat-related illness information
www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.faaspmenuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=a69ff6c5fd47b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD
