Number of triple digit readings increases by 7 over an hour ago
Here’s a look at the number of triple digit readings at Oklahoma Mesonet Stations by the hour:
11:55 a.m. – 1
12:55 p.m. – 7
1:55 p.m. – 16
2:55 p.m. – 23
Have you suffered heat stress?
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Types of Heat Stress
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related disorder. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
Symptoms
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
- Hot, dry skin (no sweating)
- Hallucinations
- Chills
- Throbbing headache
- High body temperature
- Confusion/dizziness
- Slurred speech
First Aid
Take the following steps to treat a worker with heat stroke:
- Call 911 and notify their supervisor.
- Move the sick worker to a cool shaded area.
- Cool the worker using methods such as:
- Soaking their clothes with water.
- Spraying, sponging, or showering them with water.
- Fanning their body.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Workers most prone to heat exhaustion are those that are elderly, have high blood pressure, and those working in a hot environment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- Heavy sweating
- Extreme weakness or fatigue
- Dizziness, confusion
- Nausea
- Clammy, moist skin
- Pale or flushed complexion
- Muscle cramps
- Slightly elevated body temperature
- Fast and shallow breathing
First Aid
Treat a worker suffering from heat exhaustion with the following:
- Have them rest in a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area.
- Have them drink plenty of water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
- Have them take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
Heat Syncope
Heat syncope is a fainting (syncope) episode or dizziness that usually occurs with prolonged standing or sudden rising from a sitting or lying position. Factors that may contribute to heat syncope include dehydration and lack of acclimatization.
Symptoms
Symptoms of heat syncope include:
- Light-headedness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
First Aid
Workers with heat syncope should:
- Sit or lie down in a cool place when they begin to feel symptoms.
- Slowly drink water, clear juice, or a sports beverage.
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps usually affect workers who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
Symptoms
Muscle pain or spasms usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs.
First Aid
Workers with heat cramps should:
- Stop all activity, and sit in a cool place.
- Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
- Do not return to strenuous work for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Seek medical attention if any of the following apply:
- The worker has heart problems.
- The worker is on a low-sodium diet.
- The cramps do not subside within one hour.
Heat Rash
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather.
Symptoms
Symptoms of heat rash include:
- Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters.
- It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.
First Aid
Workers experiencing heat rash should:
- Try to work in a cooler, less humid environment when possible.
- Keep the affected area dry.
- Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort.
Triple digits today
Following kind of shows how it has been heating up today. This is a look at Oklahoma Mesonet Stations by the hour.
Number of Oklahoma Mesonet stations at or above 100 degrees:
By 11:55 a.m. – 1
By 12:55 p.m. – 7
By 1:55 p.m. – 16
Triple digits on Thursday
There were about 40 Oklahoma Mesonet Stations reaching 100 degrees on Thurday, primarily in the western two-thirds of the state.
Tulsa-Ozone Alert- Saturday
AIR QUALITY ALERT MESSAGE
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
RELAYED BY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
FRI JUN 26 2009
OKZ060-280145-
TULSA-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF…TULSA
1020 AM CDT FRI JUN 26 2009
…OZONE ALERT SATURDAY…
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HAS ISSUED AN OZONE
ALERT FOR SATURDAY JUNE 27TH…FOR THE TULSA METROPOLITAN AREA.
AN OZONE ALERT MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE BUILDUP
OF OZONE NEAR THE GROUND…TO AN UNHEALTHY LEVEL.
WHEN WINDS ARE LIGHT…THE VAPORS FROM FUELS SUCH AS GASOLINE…
EXHAUST FROM ENGINES…AND AIR POLLUTANTS FROM INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
REMAIN TRAPPED NEAR THE GROUND. IF SUNSHINE IS ABUNDANT WHEN THESE
AIR POLLUTANTS BUILD UP…A CHEMICAL PROCESS IS TRIGGERED THAT
RESULTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OZONE NEAR THE GROUND DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS.
WHILE OZONE IN THE UPPER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE IS BENEFICIAL IN
SCREENING THE SUNS RADIATION…IT IS HARMFUL NEAR THE GROUND. OZONE
CAN BOTHER THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND CAN DAMAGE
VEGETATION.
A FEW SIMPLE MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN TO HELP KEEP THE OZONE LEVELS
FROM BECOMING UNHEALTHY. DURING OZONE ALERT DAYS:
POSTPONE ANY UNNECESSARY DRIVING…AND CAR POOL IF POSSIBLE.
IF YOU DO DRIVE TO WORK…TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER IN YOUR CAR
OFF DURING YOUR MORNING COMMUTE. YOU CAN ALSO CUT DOWN ON EXTRA
DRIVING BY BRINGING YOUR LUNCH TO WORK. IF YOU MUST REFUEL YOUR
VEHICLE…DO IT IN THE EVENING AFTER THE SUN GOES DOWN OR POSTPONE
YOUR FUELING TO ANOTHER DAY.
POSTPONE RUNNING THE LAWN MOWER AND GAS TRIMMER…THE EXHAUST FROM
THESE SMALL ENGINES CONTRIBUTES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF POLLUTION
TO THE AIR. INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES SHOULD REDUCE POLLUTION EMISSIONS
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON OZONE ALERT DAYS.
THESE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES…PERFORMED THROUGHOUT THE TULSA METRO
AREA…CAN HAVE A TREMENDOUS EFFECT IN REDUCING THE POLLUTANTS THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO OZONE PROBLEMS.
Triple digits before 1 p.m.
Earlier I wrote that the Kingfisher Oklahoma Mesonet Station reached 100 degrees just before noon. Well at 12:55 p.m. there were seven stations in triple digits:
Fairview at 101 degrees.
Medford, Breckrenridge, Marshall, Guthrie, Kingfisher and Lahoma were at 100 degrees.
Extreme heat can be a serious health threat
In 2008, 71 people died in the United States as a result of extreme heat.
In 2008, the most dangerous place to be was in a permanent home
with little or no air conditioning, where a reported 39 deaths (55%) occurred. The next most dangerous location was
outside/open areas, where 18 people (25%) succumbed to heat. Pennsylvania numbered the most heat victims, 27,
followed by Nevada with 19, and Texas with 7.
Extreme heat most strongly affected seniors 80-89, claiming 15 lives
(21%) and adults, 50-59 and 60-69, with 14 deaths each (20%). As in most weather fatality categories, many more
males 46 (65%) were killed than females 22 (31%), with 3 victims (4%) unknown.
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Highs so far today by 12:15 p.m.
By 12:15 p.m. the following actual temperatures had been recorded at these Oklahoma Mesonet Stations:
Kingfisher, 100 degrees
Fairview, 100 degrees
Lahoma, 99 degrees
Breckrenridge, 99 degrees
Marshall, 99 degrees
Guthrie, 99 degrees
Medford, 98 degrees
Cherokee, 98 degrees
Alva, 98 degrees,
Freedom, 98 degrees
Red Rock, 98 degrees
Stillwater, 98 degrees
Mesonet at Kingfisher – 100 degrees- 11:55 a.m.
While Kingfisher reached a 100 degrees actual temperature before noon, the Oklahoma Mesonet Station for Sallisaw reached a heat index of 103 degrees by 11:55 a.m.
OKC metro area, Clean air alert extended through Saturday
AIR QUALITY INDEX STATEMENT
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
RELAYED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
1025 AM CDT FRI JUN 26 2009
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED BY THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
A CLEAN AIR ALERT HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH SATURDAY FOR THE
OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN AREA DUE TO EXPECTED HIGH CONCENTRATIONS
OF OZONE.
PERSONS WITH EXISTING HEART OR RESPIRATORY AILMENTS SHOULD REDUCE
PHYSICAL EXERTION AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM BY
REDUCING VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED. THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY RIDING THE
BUS…CARPOOLING…AND AVOIDING UNNECESSARY TRIPS. THE PUBLIC IS
ALSO ASKED TO AVOID REFUELING DURING THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON
HOURS AND AVOID THE USE OF TWO-CYCLE ENGINES SUCH AS LAWN MOWERS…
MOTORCYCLES…WEEDEATERS…AND OUTBOARD ENGINES. IT IS ALSO ADVISED
TO LIMIT OUTDOOR BURNING.
