Community Corner
Temperatures Could Hit 100, Excessive Heat Warning Issued
The National Weather Service says temperatures could hit a high of 100 on Friday.
By Carolyn Dube and Mark Ouellette
It's been very hot all week, and while it looks like next week will start off a bit cooler, there is an "excessive heat warning" Friday as temperatures could soar to 100 degrees.
The National Weather Service says the July 19 high is 100, but with the humidity, it could feel as hot as anywhere between 105 and 109 degrees.
According to NWS, "An excessive heat warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely."
The excessive heat warning is in effect from 1-7 p.m.
The Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Serviceswebsite offers heat stroke-related information, including the following:
The most serious heat-related illness is heat stroke. When the body is unable to control its temperature, the temperature rises rapidly and the body is unable to sweat and cool down. This can occur rapidly, within 10-15 minutes, with body temperature rising to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
The warning signs of heat stroke include:
It's been very hot all week, and while it looks like next week will start off a bit cooler, there is an "excessive heat warning" Friday as temperatures could soar to 100 degrees.
The National Weather Service says the July 19 high is 100, but with the humidity, it could feel as hot as anywhere between 105 and 109 degrees.
According to NWS, "An excessive heat warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely."
The excessive heat warning is in effect from 1-7 p.m.
The Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Serviceswebsite offers heat stroke-related information, including the following:
The most serious heat-related illness is heat stroke. When the body is unable to control its temperature, the temperature rises rapidly and the body is unable to sweat and cool down. This can occur rapidly, within 10-15 minutes, with body temperature rising to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
The warning signs of heat stroke include:
- An extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Red, hot, dry skin (no sweating)
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Throbbing headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion or disorientation
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of extreme heat and inadequate or unbalanced fluid intake.
The warning signs of heat exhaustion include:
- Heavy sweating
- Pallor
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fainting
- Cool, moist skin
- Fast, weak pulse
- Fast and shallow breathing
- Confusion or disorientation
What you can do to protect your residents:
Find out what's happening in Winchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- Provide re-education to staff on the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness
- Monitor all residents for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness on all three shifts
- Monitor all rooms and common areas for excessive heat and limit traffic to those areas that are not able to be adequately cooled.
- Congregate residents in air conditioned common areas.
- Residents should remain indoors in the heat of the day.
- Provide adequate decaffeinated beverages through additional fluid passes on all three shifts.
- Provide popsicles, ice cream, jello etc between fluid passes.
- For residents on a fluid restriction ask the PCP how much fluid the resident may have when the weather is extremely hot.
- Closer monitoring of high risk patients, e.g. residents with a tube feeding, residents who may be unaware they are thirsty and need to drink.
- Assist residents with fluids rather than leaving the fluids on a table.
- Dress residents in lightweight clothing.
Here are some stories on how to keep cool:
[Editor's Note: The Massachusetts Health and Human Services' report included information from the Boston Public Health Commission's July 2010 fact sheet "Heat-Related Emergencies" July 2010, "Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote your Health and Safety" and the CDC website.]
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
