It happens every year. Someone leaves an infant or a toddler in a hot car and it ends tragically. Infants and toddlers can die in a hot car in 10 minutes. Extreme heat is serious business.
Much of the country was recently under siege by a historic heat dome that stretched from Maine to Mexico. More than 100 million people were under dire warnings of excessive heat for two weeks. We were on the periphery of that heat disaster, but our time will come. Last year was the hottest year on record. This summer is headed in that direction. Extreme heat kills more people each year than floods, tornadoes or hurricanes.
The reason we are so susceptible to extreme heat is the fact that we are endowed with only two internal mechanisms for dealing with heat. We have the ability to sweat and to blush.
In situations involving high humidity, sweating has limited benefit. That old, worn-out expression, “It’s not so much the heat, as it is the humidity,” is actually true. When the relative humidity is 80% or above and the temperature is in the high 90s or above, everyone should be alert for the signs of heat stress.
Blushing is our innate ability to divert blood to the skin in order to aid in cooling the body, which has less effect when the ambient temperature approaches our internal body temperature.
The best strategy for dealing with extreme heat is avoidance. Stay hydrated and inside air conditioned buildings as much as possible during midday hours.
The normal progression is: heat stress, then heat exhaustion, and ultimately the dreaded, often deadly, heat stroke.
The symptoms of heat stroke are insidious. One indication that you are in serious danger is confusion and disorientation, which means you may not have the thinking skills required to do what you need to do to avoid things going critical. The trick is to cool off before you reach that stage.
The very young, the very old, and those without air conditioning are especially at risk for extreme heat events. Anyone with preexisting health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or obesity – as well as those on certain medications such as diuretics, blood pressure and psychiatric meds – need to be especially vigilant to not get overheated.
Most heat-related deaths occur inside a home without air conditioning. Check on vulnerable neighbors during extreme heat events.
I will confess that I am no fan of summer. It wouldn’t bother me if they just did away with summer and filled in the gap with more spring and fall. But that’s just me. Some folks seem to enjoy jogging at high noon, playing pickle ball in sweltering heat, or climbing Table Rock in August. That’s fine if you’re healthy and fit. Stay hydrated, and take frequent breaks, and you’ll probably be just fine.
The best policy is what my daddy used to say: “Act like you got a lick of sense.”
Dennis Chastain is a Pickens County naturalist, historian and former tour guide. He has been writing feature articles for South Carolina Wildlife magazine and other outdoor publications since 1989.
