The heat is on across Texoma. Temperatures are expected to hit triple digits and stay there throughout next week.
DJ Stephens, with the Wichita County Public Health District, gave us some tips for keeping cool and staying healthy in the heat. She said, "We need to be warning people that are debilitated with ether a chronic disease, obesity or mental illness. They need to be more cautious of the weather."
Stephens said with this weather, it's about more than just sitting in front of a fan. "A lot of people think that if you're just in a room and you've got a fan running that would be sufficient. With the temperatures getting as high as they will and the humidity that's simply not enough for them. They need to be, at least a few hours a day, in an air conditioned environment if possible."
If you don't have AC in your home, Stephens suggests heading for the comfort of the mall or library to stay cool. While you're out, be sure to check on your neighbors.
"Check on other people that might not be well observed like the elderly people living by themselves who you might know of living in the neighborhood. These are the people you want to monitor, children under 4 are more susceptible and people over 65."
If you can't make it out to somewhere cool, wet a rag with cool water and cover yourself. It's also very important, simply, to stay hydrated.
"The most extreme example would be a heat stroke and that's where the body loses its ability to sweat. So the body temperature rises quickly and in 10 to 15 minutes you can have a body temperature of 106."
It's also important to check any medications you might be taking for any heat warnings. Labels with warnings might caution 'Extreme Heat' or 'Photosensitivity'.
For a complete list of heat illnesses, warning signs, and treatments, click here.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:27 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:27:28 GMT
The Wichita Falls Family Health Center will host a health fair on Saturday. The fair is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MPEC Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall in Wichita Falls.
The Wichita Falls Family Health Center will host a health fair on Saturday. The fair is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MPEC Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall in Wichita Falls.
