No one can do much about the weather except note its severity — in the next few weeks the region will enter one of its typically hot periods, so area residents should be aware of how to stay cool and safe.
That might be a tall order for some. Those of us who must work outside on a regular basis do not have the opportunity to simply stop our labors and go find some shade or an air-conditioned building.
Others — such as those who lack housing — are also in the bull’s-eye when it comes to extreme weather conditions, whether it is dangerous cold temps or a severe heat wave.
Hopefully, we will not face the kind of high temperatures we experienced last summer. Then, a seemingly endless heat blanket descended on the Pacific Northwest and baked the region.
The tips to avoid an injury from heat are simple and relatively easy to adopt. Residents should wear light, loose clothing, avoid high-energy, outdoor activities and, perhaps most important, drink plenty of fluids, including water.
It is also a good idea to keep a close watch on each other to ward off a serious heat injury. An injury from heat often can manifest itself in cramps, headache or dizziness and confusion. Those types of symptoms are the body’s way of warning it is in serious distress, and they should not be ignored.
These all seem like simple — almost no-brainer — types of steps and suggestions, but as we roll into the deep summer it can be easy to forget that heat is as dangerous as extreme cold temperatures.
In a way, we all can get complacent regarding how quickly heat can sap our body and potentially create a serious medical situation.
We all want to enjoy the great vistas and mountains our area offers every summer. Finding a great place to camp or spending a day out in the woods is one of the key attributes of our region, why it is such a great place to live, work and play. But we also want to make sure we don’t underestimate how fast extreme heat can injure.
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