Editorial

Life in Nebraska's Hot Spot requires special precautions

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Whew!

It was already in the mid-70s this morning as we were getting up, but a smattering of rain and promise of more throughout the day was a major relief from Wednesday's heat wave, when McCook got national attention, topping out at 111 degrees.

"Nebraska's Hot Spot," anyone?

A catchy phrase, for sure, but hot weather is nothing to fool with.

More and more of us live and work in pampered, air-conditioned environments, so heat doesn't have the widespread impact it once did.

But in a normal year, about 175 Americans are killed by summer heat -- more than lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or earthquakes. Only that other temperature extreme, the cold of winter, claims more people in an average year.

According to the National Weather Service, in the 40 year period from 1936 to 1975, nearly 20,000 people were killed in the United States. In the disastrous heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died.

And, that doesn't count many more who died of indirect causes such as heart failure brought on by heat.

Symptoms of too much heat include heat cramps, or painful spasms of muscles in the legs and abdomen, heat exhaustion, with heavy sweating, weakness, cold, pale and clammy skin, and heat stroke, with a body temperature 106 or higher, hot dry skin and a strong pulse.

All of the symptoms are important, but the latter, heat stroke, is a medical emergency that requires to victim to get to a hospital immediately.

Yes, today's rain is nice, but it's only July and scorching heat is bound to be back before the summer is over.

What can we do? The NWS offers the following common sense, but timely reminders for when the hot weather returns:

* Slow down. Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities to the coolest times of the day.

* Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight and help your body maintain normal temperatures.

* Put less fuel in your inner fires. Eat fewer foods like proteins that increase metabolic heat production and increase water loss.

* Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic fluids. Drink even if you don't feel thirsty. People with special medical conditions should consult a physician before increasing consumption of fluids.

* Don't take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.

* Spend more time in air-conditioned places.

* Don't get too much sun. Sunburn makes it harder for your body to dissipate heat.

If we all take a few simple precautions, there's no reason we can't enjoy Nebraska's Hot Spot for other reason's than the weather.

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