Dangerously high daily temperatures over 90, with moderate to extreme heat risk, are expected to begin Sunday and last through Thursday in the Akron area and across the state of Ohio.
Extreme heat risk, which the National Weather Service classifies as “rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief,” can be expected starting Monday.
Looking for a place to stay cool? Summit Lake Community Center, located at 380 W. Crosier St., will operate as a cooling center beginning Sunday, June 22, through Tuesday, June 24. The community center will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
The other Akron community centers will be closed on Sunday but will be open during their normal business hours on Monday and Tuesday.
Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, according to the U.S. EPA, even though many deaths are preventable.
Here are some safety tips from the National Weather Service. Signal Akron’s content partner, WKYC Studios, also has helpful information about the expected heat wave.
Avoid going outdoors, but if you must:
- Slow down and reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day.
- Anyone with a particular vulnerability to heat such as children, infants, older adults (especially those who have pre-existing conditions, take certain medications, live alone or have limited mobility), those with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
- Minimize your direct exposure to the sun, since sunburn reduces your body’s ability to handle heat.
Eating and drinking:
- Drink plenty of water (not very cold), non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty. If you are on a fluid-restricted diet or have a problem with fluid retention, consult a physician before increasing your consumption of fluids.
- Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
- Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads. Keep food you’ve packed in a cooler or carry an ice pack — don’t leave it sitting in the sun. Meat and dairy products can spoil quickly in hot weather.
To keep cool:
- Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations such as malls, libraries and community centers.
- Use portable electric fans to remove hot air from rooms or draw in cooler air.
- Do not direct the flow of portable electric fans toward yourself when room temperature is hotter than 90°F. The dry, blowing air will dehydrate you faster, endangering your health.
- Take a cool bath or shower.
Check on others:
- Check on older, sick or frail people who may need help responding to the heat.
- Do not leave children, disabled adults or pets in vehicles. Interior temperatures can quickly reach deadly levels.
Keeping kids safe in the heat:
Akron Children’s blog has some great tips about how to keep children safe and cool, including recommendations about what kids of different ages should drink and how much.
It also explains signs of heat-related illness and when to call your child’s pediatrician, listed below.
Call your child’s pediatrician if they:
- Feel faint
- Have extreme tiredness (e.g., unusually sleepy, drowsy, or hard to rouse)
- Have a headache
- Have a fever
- Have intense thirst
- Are not urinating for many hours
- Have nausea
- Are vomiting
- Are breathing faster or deeper than normal
- Have skin numbness or tingling
- Have muscle aches
- Have muscle spasms
Akron Children’s also offers tips for athletes to stay safe in the heat
Certain factors put athletes at greater risk of heat-related illness, including:
- History of a heat illness, previous illness or medical condition
- Lack of proper hydration
- Sleep deprivation/fatigue/tiredness
- Training at the hottest hours of the day
- Wearing additional equipment (helmets, pads, etc.)
- Increased stress levels
- Low physical fitness or high body mass index (BMI)
- Improper work/rest cycles during workouts
- Use of diuretics (coffee, energy drinks, antihistamines and certain medications)
Prevention is best bet for heat-related illness
Dr. Zaid Khatib at Akron Children’s recommends:
- Drinking plenty of liquids before, during and after activities to stay hydrated, even if an athlete says they aren’t thirsty.
- Avoiding intense activity outdoors during the hottest hours of the day.
- Taking frequent breaks and encouraging kids to go indoors or find a cool place immediately whenever they feel overheated.
- Placing a cool towel around an athlete’s neck after intense activities to help lower body temperature.
Recognize the signs of heat-related illness
Early recognition and treatment of heat-related illnesses are key to avoiding serious complications. The three most common types are:
Exercise-associated muscle cramps happen suddenly or are sometimes progressive, involuntary, painful contractions (or flexing) of muscles during or after exercise. Other symptoms may include thirst, fatigue or feeling tired and sweating.
Heat exhaustion occurs when an athlete has difficulty exercising effectively due to a combination of high temperatures, excessive sweating and inadequate fluid and salt replacement.
Symptoms include:
- Core body temperature below 105°F
- Excessive fatigue/tired or difficulty participating
- Headache, dizziness and/or confusion (mild)
- Weakness, poor muscle coordination
- Vomiting/nausea
- Low blood pressure
Exertional heat stroke (EHS) occurs when the body’s heat-regulating system is overwhelmed by excessive heat. It is a life-threatening emergency and requires immediate medical attention and rapid cooling.
Symptoms include:
- Core body temperature typically above 105°F
- Extreme difficulty or inability to continue participating
- Collapse, confusion, seizures, altered consciousness, combative, irritable
- Increased heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid breathing
- Hot, wet or dry skin
