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THE HEAT IS ON
by Peter Cvelich, Wake Weekly Summer Intern
Herman Dowdy got to work early Tuesday -- a full hour and a half, he said.
Arriving at 5:30 a.m. wasn't Dowdy's way of getting ahead. Rather, it was his way of avoiding the heat. The worst of it anyway. With highs topping the century mark this week, delivery men such as Dowdy and his partner Michael May, both who work for Delta Gypsum in Wake Forest, figured if they got to work early they'd finish early, avoiding at least part of the unbearable heat that kept schoolchildren inside and summer campers in lakes and pools. For those like Dowdy and May, who earn their livings working outdoors, extra precautions should be taken during the area's extreme high temperatures to avoid heat-related illnesses. When the heat index -- a formula that calculates how hot it feels based on the temperature and the humidity -- reaches highs around 108 degrees, the body can succumb to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. These threats come from two scenarios. First, too much fluid loss from sweating and not staying hydrated can cause your blood flow to decrease to vital organs. Second, if the humidity is too high, your body's sweat might not evaporate quickly, preventing it from cooling you off and causing you to overheat. Overexertion on a hot day can lead to heat exhaustion -- fatigue, possibly dizziness and nauseousness. Heatstroke, the potentially fatal second step, occurs when the body cannot cool off and loses the ability to regulate its temperature, sometimes getting as hot as 105 degrees. If the body is not cooled off quickly and medical attention is not sought, brain damage or death could occur. Two groups particularly susceptible to the debilitating effects of extreme heat are children and senior citizens, the Department of Health and Human Service cautioned. At the YMCA's Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, keeping children active outdoors but safe from the sun is a season-long goal. "We've had no heat-related problems at all this year with campers, which is really amazing," said camp director David Bell. The camp runs 11 one-week sessions starting in early June and ending before school starts in August. A residential as well as day camp, Camp Kanata is at full capacity this week, with an all-time high of 350 campers. Throughout the summer, but of particular emphasis during this week's Beach Blast session, the camp puts in place several safety measures, Bell said. Water cooler stations are set up across the grounds so that campers can remain hydrated by taking water breaks every 15 minutes. A midday rest-period is built into the schedule and outdoor activities halt during the hottest part of the day, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., so the kids can re-energize in air conditioning. And, of course, the campers can splash and cool off during the hour-long free-for-all waterfront session in the late afternoon. Trained in CPR and always alert for any sign of heat-related illness, the camp's counselors are prepared for any heat wave that arises during the summer, Bell said. Stay inside The playgrounds are empty at the year-round Jones Dairy Elementary this week. On code red or code orange summer days, the school shuts down outdoor recess and keeps students in their classrooms during that 30-minute period, said Assistant Principal Debra Pearce. "They're still getting their physical activity, just not outside," she said. Jones Dairy teachers are responsible for occupying their students during in-class recess and some have been quite innovative, playing games like foursquare and taking walking tours through the halls that familiarize new students with the facilities, Pearce added. In Michael Stiefel's fourth-grade class, mathematics games and stretching help pass the recess time indoors. "I think they are happy to be in the air conditioning," Stiefel said. "The biggest thing is they like to be with each other," whether that is outdoors or indoors, he added. In second grade, Erin Fuller's lively students enjoy breaking it down to some jazzy tunes. "Basically the full 30 minutes I have a large group that just wants to dance," Fuller said. "It's just too hot to play outside; the students want to come back in after five minutes." For staff members who must work long hours outdoors, like bus drivers, the school is providing a constant supply of water, Pearce said. In construction work, self-monitoring is the key to staying safe while the sun beats down. "Over the years, you grow accustomed to it," said Matthew Vinson, construction supervisor for TGC Development Inc., currently working on the Crossings at Heritage senior apartments. "I tell the guys each morning, 'If you get hot, take a break and drink some water.'" If the temperatures rise over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the crew might cut the day short at about 3:30 p.m., Vinson said, but they never take a complete day off due to the heat. Electricians David "Teddy" Dillehay III and Jason Taylor, also working at the Crossings at Heritage, know how to keep their cool. Even though he's only been at the job for four months, Dillehay says he's used to the heat working outside five days a week and would choose it over an air-conditioned office any day. "The air conditioning gives me sinus problems," Dillehay said. The rule of thumb for working in the sun? "Pace yourself; there's no need to rush," Dillehay advised. "Rome wasn't built in a day." Another tip: during lunch, don't chow down on thick hamburgers. Instead, a light, salty snack is all Dillehay and Taylor need to sustain themselves and minimize the metabolic rise in body heat. "Eat just enough to keep rolling," said Taylor, the 13-year construction veteran. The two also mount fans in their trucks and tractors. And when they start to overheat, "A cold towel on your neck and a cold towel on your wrist -- that's the best way to cool off," Taylor recommended. Like Dillehay, not everyone is comfortable in air conditioning. Some senior citizens turn theirs off because it agitates their arthritis. Refresh with water Campers aren't the only ones getting in the water. Regular folks crowded Falls Lake State Recreation Area last weekend, Scott Kershner, park superintendent, said. Swimmers and sunbathers packed the lake shore at Beaverdam and Sandling Beach, the two most popular locations, and the boat ramps were in constant use. "Our visitation has definitely increased over the last (summer), all the weekends." The hottest parts of the weekend, midday on Saturday and Sunday, see the most day-trippers flood the riverbanks and picnic areas. For the month of June last year, 129,338 visitors came to the park. About 20,000 swam at the lake. This past June, just over 135,000 people visited Falls Lake to escape the grind, and about 35,000 got wet. There has not been a park visitor to suffer from a heat-related illness this season, Kershner said, adding that his staff is "vigilant" in watching the beach areas for dehydrated visitors. Kershner recommends anyone outdoors in the summer heat stay hydrated by drinking water and sports drinks to replace electrolytes and avoiding sodas and alcoholic beverages. That's what Dowdy and May were doing Tuesday morning while delivering sheet rock to apartment buildings under construction. As the thermometer climbed, the men reached for their cooler. "It's full of Gatorade," Dowdy said. Temperatures are expected to drop Thursday with highs in the 90's and again on Friday with highs in the 80's throughout the weekend. Contributing to this report was Editor Suzanne Rook.
Last Updated On: July 28, 2005
Copyright 2005 The Wake Weekly