Hannah Styles
hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Just like the song Heat Waves by Glass Animals says, “heat waves been faking me out,” has been making it feel more like late July or August than the middle of June in Swain County. According to the National Weather Service, for the Asheville area, this week’s record high set on June 22, 1964, of 94º F was forecasted to be tied in Bryson City where temperatures were expected to reach a high of 94º F on Wednesday, June 22. The average high for the month of June in Bryson City is 80.3º F, making the temperatures over 10 degrees higher than the average this week.
How to stay safe in
extreme heat
According to the US Centers for Disease Control, drinking enough fluids is one of the most important steps you can take to protect illnesses from the heat, like heat exhaustion and stroke. If you must be out in the heat for work or other reasons, they recommend hydrating before you go out in the heat and continuously hydrating while outside.
“Most people need several hours to drink enough fluids to replace what they have lost through sweat,” according to cdc.gov. Dehydration creates a significant strain on the body and severe dehydration can cause many medical conditions such as kidney stones. Water is the best drink to replace lost hydration, but you should not skip meals because your body needs the salt to replace what it lost from sweat.
Swain County Emergency Services Director David Breedlove offers some tips to protect yourself from heat illnesses.
“Stay hydrated, be aware of the temperature and stay in the shade or inside. If you are working or recreating outside, take lots of breaks, wear light clothing,” Breedlove said.
There are a lot of sports drinks advertising their great for hydration, but Breedlove said good ole water is the best.
“Water is your best choice to stay hydrated but Gatorade is not bad,” he said.
The CDC also recommends taking cool showers or baths to cool down, checking on friends or neighbors and having someone do the same for you, NEVER leave children or pets in cars, and check the local news for health and safety updates.