COLUMBUS – As central Ohio residents continue to swelter in the first summer heat wave of the year, authorities are working to help relieve the discomfort – and head off the threat of more serious problems.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory from noon until 8:00 p.m. Thursday with heat index values predicted to be between 100 and 105 degrees
MUCH cooler air arrives Friday, but first we have one more day of heat, humidity, and storms. Scattered activity will develop this afternoon once again, with gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall being primary threats. Keep an eye on the sky today if you have outdoor plans! pic.twitter.com/zhuma6w6iC
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) July 5, 2018
Even though the heat wave has already peaked in much of the Northeast and Midwest, the National Weather Service says another hot and humid day is in store before cooler and less humid air advances southeastward across the North Central states into the Ohio Valley.
Heat Safety Tips
If possible, spend more time in air conditioned or well ventilated places.
Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
Taking a cool shower or bath
Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
Adults should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water/day (or 2-4 cups of water/hour while working or exercising outside) even if you do not feel thirsty
Avoid beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine, because they can add to dehydration and increase the effects of heat illnesses.
Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car. Interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes.
Provide plenty of fresh water for pets and leave the water in a shady area.
Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals.
Children may become preoccupied with outdoor play and not realize that they are getting overheated
Check on the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions
During outdoor work, schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments.
Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Source: Ohio Dept. of Health/OSHA
Older residents and those with medical conditions are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, which can prove fatal in extreme cases, because of their weakened immune systems, said Chuck Gehring, CEO of Lifecare Alliance, which delivers Meals-On-Wheels to area senior and also distributes free fans during the summer.
“Doctors tell us that a fan can make as much as a ten-degree difference in a room, which is huge in this heat,” he said.
To request a fan, call Lifecare Alliance at 614-437-2870 or 614-278-3130. Residents can purchase a new box fan and drop it off at any central Ohio fire station
Franklin County has not reported a heat-related death in seven years, and all of central Ohio has only seen one during that time, while other Midwestern cities have experienced between 10 and 40 during a single summer and Gehring believes handing out the free fans is one of the main reasons.