8
Wednesday, August 2, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Triple-digit temperatures bring health risks
Triple-digit tempera-
tures are expected in Sisters
Country this week, and
in order to stay safe the
American Red Cross urges
residents to be aware of the
steps they should take to
avoid heat-related illness.
Follow these simple steps
to keep yourself and others
safe before and during a heat
wave.
• Be aware of both the
temperature and the heat
index. The heat index is
the temperature the body
feels when the effects of
heat and humidity are
combined.
• Check the contents of
your disaster preparedness
kit to ensure it has enough
water and non-perishable
food items, just in case. For a
full kit list, visit redcross.org/
PrepareGuide.
• Look out for your
neighbors—people who are
elderly, young or sick are
more susceptible to heat-
related illness and may need
your help.
• If you do not have air
conditioning, locate places
you could go to find relief
from the heat during the
warmest part of the day
(schools, libraries, theaters,
malls). Many government
websites provide a list of
available cooling centers.
• Ensure that your ani-
mals’ needs for water and
shade are met.
• Never leave children
or pets alone in enclosed
vehicles, not even for a few
minutes. According to the
National Weather Service, a
car left in 80 degree weather
yielded an inside temperature
of 95 degrees and rising in
just two minutes.
• Stay hydrated by drink-
ing plenty of fluids even
if you do not feel thirsty.
Avoid drinks with caffeine or
alcohol.
• Eat small meals and eat
more often.
• We a r l o o s e - f i t t i n g ,
lightweight, light-colored
clothing. Avoid dark colors
because they absorb the sun’s
rays.
• Slow down, stay indoors
and avoid strenuous exercise
during the hottest part of the
day (late afternoon/evening).
• Postpone outdoor games
and activities (participants
and spectators).
• Use a buddy system
when working in excessive
heat.
• Take frequent breaks if
you must work outdoors.
• Check on family, friends
and neighbors who do not
have air conditioning, who
spend much of their time
alone, or who are more likely
to be affected by the heat.
• Check on your animals
frequently to ensure that they
are not suffering from the
heat.
During heat waves peo-
ple are susceptible to sev-
eral heat-related conditions.
Here’s how to recognize and
respond to them.
Heat cramps are muscular
pains and spasms that usually
occur in the legs or abdo-
men. Heat cramps are often
an early sign that the body is
having trouble with the heat.
• Get the person to a
cooler place and have him
or her rest in a comfortable
position. Lightly stretch the
affected muscle.
• Give an electrolyte-
containing fluid, such as a
sports drink. Water may also
be given.
Heat exhaustion is a
more severe condition than
heat cramps. Heat exhaus-
tion often affects athletes,
firefighters and construction
workers. It also affects those
wearing heavy clothing in a
hot, humid environment.
• Signs of heat exhaus-
tion include cool, moist,
pale, ashen or flushed skin;
headache; nausea; dizziness;
weakness; and exhaustion.
• Move the person to a
cooler environment with
circulating air. Remove or
loosen as much clothing as
possible and apply cool, wet
towels to the skin. Fanning
or spraying the person with
water also can help. If the
person is conscious, give
small amounts of a cool
fluid such as a sports drink
or fruit juice to restore fluids
and electrolytes. Give about
4 ounces of fluid every 15
minutes.
• If the person’s condi-
tion does not improve or if
he or she refuses water, has
a change in consciousness or
vomits, call 9-1-1.
Heat stroke is a
life-threatening condi-
tion that usually occurs by
ignoring the signals of heat
exhaustion. Heat stroke
develops when the body’s
systems are overwhelmed
by heat and begin to stop
functioning.
• Signs of heat stroke
include extremely high body
temperature; red skin which
may be dry or moist; changes
in consciousness; rapid,
weak pulse; rapid, shallow
breathing; confusion; vomit-
ing; and seizures.
• Heat stroke is life-
threatening. Call 9-1-1
immediately if you believe
someone is suffering from
this condition.
• Rapidly cool the body
by immersing the person up
to the neck in cold water, if
possible OR douse or spray
the person with cold water.
• Cover the person with
bags of ice or cold, wet
towels.
• If you are not able to
measure and monitor the
person’s temperature, apply
rapid cooling methods for 20
minutes or until the person’s
condition improves.
Local
churches
host day
of unity
Three Sisters churches are
gathering together on Sunday,
August 6 at 9:30 a.m. for a
big outdoor service, followed
by activities and lunch.
The gathering will be
held at Reed Stadium, next
to Sisters Middle School,
with a community church
service combining Sisters
Community Church, Vast,
and Westside churches. There
will be a time of worship,
teaching, and prayer fol-
lowed by an opportunity for
worshippers to eat and gather
together.
There will be food trucks
on site or you may bring a
picnic lunch, and there will
be bounce houses and slip-n-
slides for the kids.
“We just want to make it a
time where we can be united
as a community of people,”
said Jillian Jeppsen, one of
the event’s organizers.
Nelson
Horse Waterers
Install • Repair
Year-round Parts & Service
miller
I R R I G A T I O N
541-388-0190
LCB#8234
Great hair
doesn’t happen
by chance.
It happens
by appointment.
Tim & Ronnica Westcott
Jenny Duey
541-588-6611
220 W. Cascade Ave.
Come in, Relax, Enjoy!