Editorial

Nice break, but summer's not over yet

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Whew, what a relief! After six days in a row of 100 degrees or more -- 109 on Wednesday and a record 105 on Thursday -- Tuesday's 76 degrees was an absolute pleasure.

Today promised to be only slightly warmer, but the weekend warmup well into the 90s reminds us that summer is far from over. In fact the hottest days might even be ahead of us, heaven forbid.

With this week's Red Willow County Fair, it's not too late to hear a reminder from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services of ways to avoid becoming a victim of heat-related illness or even death.

High temperatures and high humidity, like we have been experiencing, can be a deadly combination, according to the HHS.

How hot does it feel? The HHS provides the accompanying chart combining humidity and temperature:

To avoid problems:

* Wear loose, light-colored clothing.

* If outdoor activity is unavoidable, slow your pace and take frequent rest breaks to cool off.

* Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.

* Try to rest often in shady areas.

* Protect your skin by using sunscreen lotion with a protective factor of 15 or greater and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt and pants. Sunburn interferes with the body's job of heat dissipation, and too much sun exposure is a risk factor for skin cancer.

Being in an air conditioned place for a few hours each day will reduce the risk of health-related illness. Fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illnesses. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.

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