Hot Hot Hot in Catasauqua

Whew baby it is hot outside, so what's a girl to do.  I decided to clean the basement.  But every so often I take a break and surf around the web.  I though maybe I should blog about the heatwave.  So I was checking some historical heatwaves.   A 1936 heatwave was the most severe heat wave in the modern history of North America.   It took place in the middle of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and caused catastrophic human suffering and an enormous economic toll. You gotta remember that this was before air conditioning.  Some of the records from 1936 still stand today, maybe I shouldn't say this but the the heat wave of 1936 was followed by a winter with record breaking cold temperatures.

There was another record setting heat wave in the area in 1995 and from what I have been reading on line 2012 is turning into another record setting year.

Now, while I was popping around looking for Catasauqua facts I found some interest sites that I did not know existed.  First on Facebook, I found the Catasauqua Emergency Management Agency, which lead me to http://readycatasauqua.tumblr.com which had some great hot weather survival tips on it; and http://www.catasauquaema.org, along with a twitter account are all sites of the Catasauqua Emergency Management Agency.    I guess you can never be too ready. 

You can check out their sites but in the meantime here are some hot weather tips from the CDC - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention

• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on:
  • Infants and young children
  • People aged 65 or older
  • People who have a mental illness
  • Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure
• Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

If you must be out in the heat:

• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour.  A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first “tip” (above), too.
• Try to rest often in shady areas.
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).

This information provided by NCEH's Health Studies Branch.

Well that's it for now, back to basement for me and remember......BE SAFE - STAY COOL and that's another day in Catasauqua