Heat Awareness Day

The last Friday of every May is a time to bring awareness to Heat Awareness. This year May 25th is National Heat Awareness Day. Numerous fatalities are due to heat each year. Whether it be heat exhaustion, due to dehydration that is due to hear or some other heat related problem heat is one of the top weather related killers in the United States.

Take for example the heat wave in 1980. I may be given my age away a bit but I must say that I can recall the heat in the 1980s. I was a child and yet can remember our parents trying to keep us hydrated using any method possible including the back-yard watering hose. The heat wave that year would result in the loss of 1,250 lives The heat wave in Europe during 2003 resulted in a much larger number of lives lost totaling around 50,000.

During high humidity and extremely hot weather the National Weather Service will send out weather alerts. These alerts may include

• excessive heat outlooks
• excessive heat watches
• excessive heat warning / advisories

There are a few things that you can do to take care of your self during the extreme heat. A few things you can do include:

• stay hydrated by drinking lots of water
• avoid alcohol
• try to avoid caffeinated drinks and sugary drinks
• find a cool place to rest and try not to overwork your body

Never leave a young child, disabled individual or pet locked in a car. NO matter the weather this should never be done. Cars heat up quickly when parked in the sun. 

Lets admit it, the summers in the U.S. are hot. Sometimes this is not just limited to summer but also may include spring and fall.