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August 4, 2008

First heat advisory comes late in summer

Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — Even though Central Oklahoma has been baking under the hot summer sun Edmond has had a “very low number” of heat-related incidents, a city official said Monday.

Record-breaking temperatures were forecast for Oklahoma City, and KOCO-5 was predicting a high of 105 degrees. Shortly before 3 p.m. on Monday, with the hottest part of the day yet to come, it already was a scorching 104 degrees.

Tim Wheeler, chief of fire prevention for the Edmond Fire Department, said the level of calls related to the heat is nothing above normal. He attributes the low number of heat-related calls to folks using common sense and taking prescribed precautions.

“It’s been relatively quiet,” Wheeler said.

On Sunday, EMSA issued its first heat advisory of the summer for the Oklahoma City area. EMSA spokeswoman Lara O’Leary said heat advisories are issued when at least five people are treated for heat-related illnesses.

O’Leary said there were seven heat-related calls on Saturday and five on Sunday, with a number of them being elderly or “weekend warriors” overdoing it. Prior to the weekend, there were an average of two or three heat-related calls a day, O’Leary said.

The fact that the first heat advisory came so late in the summer indicates EMSA’s public education efforts about the dangers associated with heat is making a tangible difference, O’Leary said.

But while lower temperatures are forecast for later this week, at least one more day above the 100-degree mark is expected.

Until “cooler” weather returns, emergency personnel ask area residents to use common sense and to take prescribed precautions if they have to be active out in the heat.

O’Leary said individuals can beat the heat if they hydrate themselves well before they go outside. It’s also best to wear light-colored clothing and it’s good to exercise outdoors early in the day.

Also, don’t forget to check on elderly neighbors or family members. O’Leary suggested gauging if they are lucid or not during a phone call. Heat stroke, if it occurs at any age, can damage the central nervous system and make victims more vulnerable to heat for the rest of their lives, O’Leary said.

And don’t forget to ensure that outdoor pets have plenty of water and shade. Pets, especially the long-haired ones, have their own issues with heat.

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