Excessive temperatures lead to increased risk of heat-related illness

This week's heat wave isn't just uncomfortable. With heat indexes in the 105- to 115-degree range, it could be dangerous.

On Tuesday the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., issued an excessive heat warning for the area through 7 p.m. Saturday. The warning means the NWS expects the heat index to reach 110 or higher.

High temperatures at or above 97 degrees and high humidity are expected each day through Saturday.

Local emergency rooms report seeing increasing numbers of patients affected by the heat.

Saint Francis Medical Center's emergency center has seen an average of two patients each day for the past five days coming in with heat-related symptoms. A Southeast Hospital spokesman said its emergency room has seen two to three cases of heat exhaustion every week for the past several weeks.

Both hospitals say the number of patients they're seeing because of the heat is typical for this time of year.

"Every summer we see a certain number of individuals that present with signs of dehydration as a result of being outside in sports related activities or working in the heat," said Marcia Abernathy, a registered nurse and director of emergency services at Saint Francis. "It seems as though those numbers increase as we get into this type of weather."

Intravenous therapy is typically used to treat them, she said.

All of the patients she's seen this summer have been young adults, but Abernathy warns that the elderly and young children are most susceptible to heat.

"They just don't have the body mass to deal with disbursing the temperature," she said.

The key to avoiding heat exhaustion or more severe heat stroke is to stay hydrated, Abernathy said.

People should avoid drinks containing alcohol and caffeine, which can make dehydration worse, she said.

"Stick to water or Gatorade, which has electrolytes. The same stuff you're losing when you sweat is in the drink, so you're giving your body back the salts you're sweating out."

When the body can no longer cool itself by sweating, that's when the risk of heat stroke increases, Abernathy said.

"If you stop sweating, turn flushed and dry, then you go into risk for heat stroke," she said.

Symptoms of heat stroke include increased body temperature, heart rate and respiration. People also may lose consciousness or become disoriented.

Abernathy suggests moving anyone overcome by heat to a shady spot, applying cold towels and, if they're not vomiting, giving them water to drink.

Not only is this extreme heat dangerous for those in the outdoors, it's also difficult for those indoors without air conditioning.

First Call for Help, a community resource referral line, has received

numerous calls requesting assistance with utility bills during the past few weeks, executive director Denise Wimp said.

She was referring people to East Missouri Action Agency, which had federal utility assistance funds available earlier this summer, but those ran out in June, Wimp said.

"It's the hottest part of the summer, and we're out of utility assistance," she said. "It's a really bad time right now for people who are struggling to pay utility bills."

For those who can afford to keep their air conditioners running, they'll likely be working overtime this week. A spokeswoman with Ameren Missouri said the company isn't forecasting any record-breaking usage over the next few days.

Heat was determined to be a factor in a power outage last Tuesday, she said. This outage left 1,500 Ameren customers without power for about four hours while the heat index hovered at 111 degrees. Several local sites have opened as cooling centers to provide relief from the heat this week. They are the Osage Centre, Cape Girardeau Senior Center, Salvation Army, Jackson Senior Center, Marble Hill Senior Center, Perry Senior Center, First Assembly of God Scott City, Scott City Senior Center, Chaffee Senior Center, Sikeston Senior Center and Miner Baptist Church.

The Salvation Army has a waiting list of people who need fans and window air conditioning units. People interested in donating either may bring donations to the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St. in Cape Girardeau, Major Beth Stillwell said.

"We will get it out to someone who needs it immediately," she said.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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