Rockingham County's heat wave not over ... expect scorching temps Tuesday

Rockingham County residents who plan to spend time outside Tuesday should use caution. The scorching weather will persist for at least another day.

Monday’s high temperature was 95 degrees, but the heat index was a broiling 99, according to the Upper Piedmont Research Station. Heat index values are expected to approach 100 degrees once again Tuesday, according to a hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service. The extreme heat will continue until Wednesday afternoon, when showers and thunderstorms are expected to drop temperatures into the 80s.

Sharon Troxler, director of marketing and volunteer services for Annie Penn Hospital, is shocked by the unseasonably hot weather.

“It’s not supposed to be this hot in June,” she said. “People just aren’t prepared for such hot weather this early.”

Glenn Martin, director of the Rockingham County Department of Public Health, said going from the weeks of rainy, temperate days to the recent hot, dry weather has been tough.

“It came hard and fast,” said Martin. “It has kind of been an extreme change in the past week.”

Martin said the health department has treated one patient for heat exhaustion since the hot weather began about a week ago. He said the patient’s job requires him to work outdoors.
“Obviously the heat is a big concern right now,” he said.

Sandra Queider, director of Annie Penn Hospital’s emergency department, said the department has not treated anyone for heat stroke but has seen an increase in patients with respiratory problems, dizziness and nausea. For people who already have respiratory problems, Troxler said, heat can intensify the condition.

Kerry Faunce, director of marketing and public relations for Morehead Memorial Hospital, said the hospital hasn’t recently treated anyone for a heat-related illness. But he advises people to use caution to avoid problems.

“Drink plenty of cool liquids to stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can lead to dehydration,” he said. He also advised staying indoors during the hottest parts of the day — late morning to late afternoon.

Faunce said children and elderly people are the most susceptible to heat-related illnesses because their immune systems aren’t as resilient. Obesity, heart disease, poor circulation, sunburn, prescription drug use and alcohol use also can limit the body’s ability to regulate temperature, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Prolonged exposure to heat can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion and eventually heat stroke. According to the CDC, the depletion of the body’s salt and moisture as a result of heavy sweating during strenuous activity causes cramps, the mildest form of heat-related illness. Heat exhaustion typically develops after several days of exposure to extreme heat coupled with inadequate replacement of fluids. Some symptoms include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting and headache. Heat stroke is a life-threatening illness that occurs when the body temperature rises above 103 degrees. Other signs of heat stroke include rapid pulse, lack of sweating, dizziness, confusion and, in some cases, unconsciousness.

Staying cool and using common sense are good ways to prevent heat-related illness. For more tips about how to handle the heat, visit http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.asp.

Staff writer Miranda Baines can be reached at mbaines@reidsvillereview.com or 349-4331, ext. 35.