Temperatures are forecast to reach into the mid-90’s this weekend and bring with them health risks. Stanford Physician Jay Miller said it’s important to check on the elderly. He added they can become confused and feel a cool sensation when afflicted with a heat-related ailment.
Miller said it’s important to check for heat-producing items in the home. “Our pilot light on our stove was still burning from our wintertime, our heating stove. I just turned that off like two weeks ago, but little things like that put out a lot of heat,” said Miller.
The heatwave is expected to affect all sections of the Commonwealth as well as states well north of Kentucky. Miller said humidity can work against the body’s ability to cool itself. “You may feel you’re sweating more, but it sticks around longer. But, in the dry heat, it just leaves you quickly and that cools you. So, the humid area you just don’t have a natural cooling method of your body as much as if it’s a real dry heat,” explained Miller.
Magoffin County Health Department Nurse Marlene Robertson said sometimes people with outside jobs don’t drink enough fluids or take breaks as often as they should.
While Salyersville is in east Kentucky where tree-covered mountains are prevalent, Robertson noted it still gets hot and high humidity can be an issue.
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