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Homepage | Weather and Health
Staying Safe in the Heat
The CDC has some good advice here for dealing with extreme heat. It includes tips for staying cool, recognizing heat stroke, recognizing heat exhaustion and monitoring people at high risk. The CDC also says to never leave children or pets in hot cars. Even with the window cracked this can be a deadly mistake to make.
Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes. Anyone left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death. Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at greatest risk for heat stroke, and possibly death.
Warnings for heat advisories this week have noted that temperatures in cars can climb to 130 degree very quickly in this kind of heat and humidity.
NEVER LEAVE PETS OR CHILDREN IN PARKED CARS - EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. TEMPERATURES INSIDE PARKED CARS CAN REACH 130 DEGREES IN ONLY A FEW MINUTES
The recent heat wave in California is responsible for over 160 deaths as well as the deaths of 25,000 cows and hundreds of thousands of poultry. This same heat wave is moving east so people in the Midwest and the East Coast need to be alert for some dangerously hot and humid weather. Excessive heat warnings have already been posted in many states.
Posted on July 31, 2006
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West Nile Virus Concerns
Could 2005 be another bad West Nile Virus year? In past years hot dry weather has been associated with some large outbreaks of the virus in states like Illinois and Colorado. There have already been 60+ cases and two deaths confirmed by the CDC and this article on The Moderate Voice provides links to recent news articles mentioning new cases not yet confirmed by the CDC. In years past August and September have been the months with the largest numbers of human west nile victims. Last year was a much milder year with 2,539 cases and 100 deaths compared to 2003's 9,862 cases and 264 deaths. Hopefully, the diminishing trend will continue in 2005 but either way you will want mosquito repellent to protect you. The CDC recommends that you use mosquito repellent with deet. Some deet alternatives can be found here.
Posted on August 1, 2005
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