Welcome to the tropics

• Pool

Brian Korthals/Daily Globe Worthington YMCA lifeguard Dayton Williamson (RIGHT) watches over the many people cooling off in the outdoor pool Tuesday afternoon at the facility.

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — Some sun and heat should be a good trade-off for Minnesota’s notoriously long winters, right?

The excessive heat warnings in recent days have made everybody think twice.

With temperatures soaring well into the 90s and heat index in the triple digits, extra precautions are in order.

Gwen Post, Sanford Critical Care Services nurse manager, said people usually start their days slightly dehydrated because they’ve been sleeping through the night.

Her first advice is to drink some water before going about daily routines.

On a hot day, one should plan on having liquids more readily available; anything from water to lemonade works well. Outdoor employees are encouraged to take frequent water breaks and to avoid sun exposure from time to time.

Folks at home without air conditioning can plan on basking in cool air at shopping areas or restaurants she said.

Purchasing a window air conditioner unit, however, could be a problem in town with everyone on a mad scramble to keep cool.

“Right now, we’re out of window units, although we got some in yesterday on the truck,” said Schwalbach Ace Hardware store manager, Gaylen Hubbard.

Units are scarce because the warehouse inventory has been depleted, but Hubbard said as soon as new stock arrives, they will be available for purchase.

Although Post has not seen a sudden increase of patients in the emergency room for heat-related conditions, people should avoid “anything that keeps the body’s natural cooling system from working right.” A general rule, she said, is to dress appropriately.

Two age groups that are more susceptible to extreme heat are the older and younger populations. The aging population’s brains cannot sense temperature change and become thirsty easily. People with health conditions such as lung or heart diseases that can reduce blood circulation should also be more vigilant during a heat wave.

Common heat ailments are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The former is a precursor to heat stroke, Post said. Some signs of heat exhaustion include thirst, nausea, fatigue, dizzy spells and muscle cramps. Anyone experiencing such symptoms should consume cool liquids as a first treatment step. A cold beer, unfortunately, can cause further dehydration.

According to Post, placing a damp cloth on body area where there is access to blood flow, like the neck, will also help to cool the body down.

Once symptoms shift to high body temperatures, skin redness and a halt in sweating, heat stroke starts developing and immediate treatment should be sought.

Like humans, animals need their fair share of care, too. According to Brian Dorcey, veterinarian at Worthington‘s Veterinary Medical Center, cattle dissipate heat through their hooves, respiratory tracts and ears.

Livestock owners can cool their feedlot cattle by adding water to outside pens, using sprinkler systems and delivering more feed at the night feeding.

“Delivering more feed at night allows the heat of fermentation to occur at cooler parts of the day and through the night,” Dorcey explained.

Animals that show signs of heat stroke can be treated by applying water or alcohol directly on ears and hooves. Dorcey said alcohol evaporates faster than water, especially on a humid day.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Tags: news, citizens, urged, precaution, extreme, heat, wave