SOME OFTEN OVERLOOKED HEAT TIPS
Written by: Bob Metcalfe
This was a self-portrait of me earlier this afternoon. As I always say, I'd rather take extreme cold compared to extreme heat because you can always dress for the cold.
Just a heads up, this will get a little cliche, and a little preachy.
As a volunteer firefighter and EMT, I know just how bad the hot days can be. Over the years, we get bombarded with heat exhaustion/trouble breathing calls during hot streaks like the one we are about to enter. When we enter the homes of the patients, often it is near 100 degrees or sometimes even more (no lie!) These patients are most typically elderly people who have no air conditioning. Extremely young children also have not developed the proper body-temperature controls in infancy, so they need a cool environment as well. And don't forget about Sparky the Dog or Milton the Cat either. Keep their bowls full of fresh, cold water. A few ice cubes wouldn't hurt either.
Bottom line is that heat related illnesses are very preventable. Drink plenty of fluids and make sure you eat proper meals and don't work too hard out in that yard. Finding a place to enjoy some air conditioning isn't a bad idea either.
Stay cool everyone, it's going to be a rough couple of days!
This may be a silly question, but why is it that when I check the current temperature for my town online, it gives me a number that is usually 5 degrees lower than the number I see on my thermometer at home, the signs on banks and schools, and the reading that my car gives me? So for instance, we drove home from the Adirondacks yesterday, and the car gave off readings of 95 - 98 degrees, as did the signs we passed, but the official temp was "only" 92. I would blame the pavement, but our home thermometer read 87 and it was in the shade. What gives?
ReplyDeleteSorry....meant to say it read 97....
ReplyDeletePlacement is really key. I throw out the thermometers on school and bank signs. Those are normally not placed in ideal locations and can get sun and heat contamination. Your car, again placement and as you said reading off the road will be hotter especially with the hear radiating off the road.
ReplyDeleteAs for your location, that's tough with out seeing its location. I have seen thermometers placed at homes and in the shade on the side of their house, and although the thermometer is shaded the part of the house that the thermometer is attached too is not and this can also add to heat contamination.
Although the "Official" temperature is taken out at the Greater Rochester International Airport that is not always the same temperature for other parts of the city and surrounding communities. That is why we try and show the meso-network of temperatures we have access to.
I know this doesn't totally answer your question, with out seeing how your thermometer is set up and place it is hard to say what exactly is going on but I hope this has been of some help. -Brian Neudorff