Home Headlines

Excessive Heat Warning For WTAP Viewing Area

Posted: 9:11 AM Jul 7, 2012
Reporter: Erin Pulsanti

The National Weather Service in Charleston issues an excessive heat warning for the enitre WTAP viewing area.

* HEAT INDEX VALUES...UP TO 105 DUE TO TEMPERATURES AROUND 100...AND DEWPOINTS IN THE UPPER 60S.

* IMPACTS...HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS...SUCH AS HEAT CRAMPS OR HEAT EXHAUSTION...BECOME MORE LIKELY IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT...A HEAT STROKE IS POSSIBLE. WITH WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES...AIR CONDITIONING MAY NOT BE ACCESSIBLE...ADDING TO THE IMPACTS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE COMBINATION OF THE HEAT AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN... AND CHECK IN ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK...THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY - CALL 911.