HAZARDOUS HEAT LEADS TO SUMMER FAN PROGRAM

DEXTER -- With hazardous temperatures lately nearing the 100 degree mark, a local program has focused on insuring those in need stay cool.

The Delta Area Economic Opportunity Commission (DAEOC) in Dexter has a program called Summer Cooling for this purpose.

The program provides air conditioners and fans for those who qualify.

Paula Kitchen, DAEOC representative, said to qualify the person must be over 60 years old, have a child under 5 or be on disability. She said they must also meet poverty income requirements.

Kitchen said DAEOC has given out 20 air conditioners this year and has seven left to lend. She said the DAEOC purchase several 110 air conditioners and lend them out from June until the beginning of October.

"The elderly get them first," Kitchen said."They have the greatest need."

Dr. Darin Merritt, family practicianer, said the elderly are suseptable to heat stroke without being active.

"The elderly can't regulate or disicipate heat well," he said. "You see a lot of elderly people in the city who suffer (a stroke) just being indoors."

Merritt said young people usually only suffer a stroke while outside working. He said the elderly tend to have impaired regulatory mechanisms which leads to a stroke.

The Dexter physician added that heat exhaustion is also a problem with both young people and older adults.

He said some older adults have inadequate cardiovascular responses to heat. He said young people usually suffer from heat exhaustion because of strenuous activity.

Merritt said some heat exhaustion symptoms include: cramps, headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. He added the victim becomes short of breath and has a high heart rate.

He said patients appear listless and sweat purfusely.

"A bad sign is when the person stops sweating," Merritt said. "If it stops, they need to get to a cool area."

When a person stops sweating they are unable to cool the body and a heat stroke could occur.

Merritt said he has not had any severe heat exhaustion or stroke cases, but has some sunburn cases.

He recommends sunburns be treated with ice or a hydrocortizone -- not butter.

Merritt said some people believe butter draws the heat out, but it actually makes it worse.

He said the Bootheel's climate is dangerous because of the humidity which keeps the body from cooling down.