Health officials are urging caution the potentially dangerous combination of high heat and high humidity is expected to continue in the commonwealth through Sunday.
Dr. Robert Humphries is the chairperson of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Kentucky. He says people with chronic illnesses need to be especially careful but everyone should be aware of the potential health consequences.
“You know, we get used to doing certain things outside in the summertime, and we tolerate them fine. But occasionally, when the weather changes and the community gets really high, even at the same temperatures we were used to before you can start to get into heat-related illnesses related, you know, heat exhaustion, and then heat stroke. So part of it is just not recognizing that the humidity plays a major role in the body's ability to cool itself.”
Humphries said another often overlooked preventative step is to avoid drinking alcohol when out in the heat.
“Alcohol is a major problem, you know, it goes along with a lot of recreational activities, especially in the summertime and so the alcohol itself will significantly alter the body's ability to cool itself. And that can make people at high risk for heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heat stroke.”
He also recommends drinking plenty of water and wearing loose, light-colored clothing.
Check out the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
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Contact: Mary Meehan at mary.meehan@eku.edu
Twitter: @TheMaryMeehan @889WEKU
