Beat the Heat
As soon as you take a step outside, you may notice your hair starting to frizz or your skin becoming instantly sticky.
The heat and the humidity are not holding back as temperatures climbed into the high 90’s across the Panhandle and some areas felt closer to 100 degrees on Wednesday.
Two fans are the only thing keeping Lamar Ellis’s shop cool during his workday.
“Rely on it a lot,” said Ellis. “It keeps, it keeps us going.”
Ellis is accustomed to hot days like this since he’s a Florida native and owned this shop for 32 years.
“It’s been hot really humid and hot,” said Ellis. “But I think it’s gonna get hotter in July.”
These last few days of 2013 have been the hottest yet, but it’s not unusual to see temperatures spike this time of year. It’s likely they could soar even higher as Summer gets underway.
“I just think it’s too hot,” said Panama City Beach resident James Byrd. “Everyone needs to stay inside and seek air-conditioning, and I feel bad for those who don’t have air conditioning.”
For those who will face the outdoors, here’s some advice.
“Some people don’t realize to avoid getting sunburned can help to prevent you from getting heat exhaustion and heat stress,” said Tracy Adams, Clinic Nursing Supervisor, with the Florida Department of Health in Bay County. “With sunburn, your body loses the ability to dissipate the heat.”
The Center for Disease Control recommends drinking between two and four cups of water an hour if you plan on exercising or working out during the heat.
Adams also recommends staying away from beverages that contain caffeine, alcohol, and sugar and to avoid planning activities between 10am and 2pm, the hottest time of the day.
If you start to experience perfuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, or headache, Adams says it’s possible you’ve succumbed to heat stress, also known as heat exhaustion. Adams recommends seeking shelter and shade to avoid a heat stroke.
“Heat stroke is more severe,” said Adams. “Your body loses it’s ability to regulate temperature, so you stop sweating. Instead of cool and moist skin, you’re gonna feel hot and dry skin.”
Adams also says muscle cramps are another sign of heat stroke and if such condition is suspected, it’s critical to seek medical attention immediately.
