Temperatures And Heatstroke On The Rise

WICHITA FALLS, TX - Hot temperatures are what we are seeing now that summer has taken hold in Texoma. With that, comes the risk of that heat taking hold of you.

We reached out to health officials today to see what you can do to keep your cool.

Lovette Robinson, the Director of Nursing at the Community Healthcare Center said dehydration is actually the first stage of heat exhaustion.

"Your mouth gets really parched and dry and you might get really tired," said Robinson. "You might get kind of sweaty, clammy skin."

She says wearing a hat to shield you from the sun is very important. You should take frequent breaks and drink lots of water.

"Try not to work your body too hard," said Robinson. "The harder you work the heat you generate will cause the body to dehydrate a lot faster, so just take it slow in the heat."

If you don't treat your heat exhaustion symptoms, you could end up having a heatstroke.

"Your body core temperature gets up to 105' or higher," said Robinson. "The brain doesn't work as well so you may actually end up with seizures, more confusion and that's about the point you start to lose consciousness."

Many people choose to work without a shirt on. At first it might feel good to get out of a hot and sweaty shirt, but Robinson says this is dangerous because you're getting direct heat instead of indirect heat.

If you or someone you know is having a heatstroke it can't be fixed by drinking liquids.

"At this point you can't give them fluids," said Robinson. "That's an emergency and they need to be in a hospital immediately or else death can ensue."

Robinson suggests wearing lose light colored clothing when working outside. Clothing that's light in color help reflect heat while dark colors absorb it.

Federal health officials say more than 670 people die each year from extreme heat in the United States.

Brody Carter, Newschannel 6