The Narragansett Times - Beatin' the heat

With temperatures soaring into the high 80s and low 90s, residents have been swarming to the beaches and local air conditioning businesses have been running full tilt to keep up with demands.

“We’ve been doing 30 jobs per day. We don’t do many installations, we do more service and repair than anything,” said Greg Sweet, one of the owners of Koolco Inc. on Main Street in Wakefield.

Because the hot weather streak came on in a flash, Sweet said many residents and businesses waited until the last minute to turn on their air conditioning systems, something that is bound to cause a lot of problems in a hurry.

While the hot weather certainly has over stretched many local air conditioning businesses, it has caused a gamut of other problems.

Last Sunday the 91-degree heat caused a mass influx of city dwelling Rhode Islanders and tourists to South County’s beaches, all in the hopes of catching some cool ocean air.

However, the influx was so great that beach parking lots soon reached capacity and the Department of Environmental Management ordered all beaches closed.

When heat levels reach extremes in Rhode Island, which would be a minimum of three days in a row over 90-degrees, the governor will sometimes order all state beaches free and open to the public in addition to opening free regional cooling centers.

The cooling centers are pre-designated locations in each city and town that open during the day, offering shade and air conditioning to the general public during heat emergencies.

In South Kingstown, the local cooling center is the town’s Senior Center located at 25 St. Dominic Road and in Narragansett it is Narragansett Public Library.

“We don’t open as a cooling center unless the governor calls for it,” said Rick Ryan, Director of the South Kingstown Senior Center.

Last year, Ryan said Governor Donald Carcieri called for the senior center to open during a particularly hot day, but only a few people showed up.

“He hasn’t ordered it this year, but last year he ordered it once and only six or seven people showed up.

“When it happens we make sure there is water available and it’s air conditioned. I think most people just stayed home on that day,” Ryan explained.

Citing that it is often 10-degrees cooler down by the coast, Ryan said people in South County are probably less likely to utilize a cooling center.

While beach closure certainly threw a cog into the plans of many seeking cooler air last Sunday, the hot weather can cause some serious health problems if proper precautions are not taken.

“The dangers of heat can be life threatening. Small children and the elderly are most at risk,” said University of Rhode Island Nursing Professor, Dr. Lynne Dunphy.

A family nurse practitioner by training, Dunphy said that she recently moved to Rhode Island from Florida, where the temperatures are much higher and heat exhaustion and stroke can be more severe.

“I saw a lot of heat stroke in the elderly there. People would pass out and fall over while standing outside at political events and then need immediate hospitalization,” said Dunphy.

However, Dunphy said that because Rhode Island’s weather is cooler than that of Florida’s, when it does get hot here, heat exhaustion can effect more people because they simply aren’t used to the level of heat and the precautions needed to combat it.

“The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion can be fatigue, weakness, dizziness, head and muscle aches, profuse sweating, tachycardia (racing heart) and a drop in blood pressure.”

In more severe stages, as someone moves from heat exhaustion to near heat stroke, a lack of coordination can occur, numbness in the extremities rapid breathing and in the elderly, a loss of cognitive abilities.

If these symptoms begin to occur, Dunphy said there are a number of things that must be done to avoid passing out or invoking other serious injury.

“First you need to get out of the sun and drink some cool, non carbonated, clear liquids. No soda or other caffeinated drinks. You should also lie down with you feet over your head and get into air conditioning if possible.”

If someone actually passes out from heat stroke, Dunphy said that hospitalization is required so the person can receive fluids intravenously and other medical attentions.

While it’s good to know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and stroke and how to treat it, Dunphy said it’s best to take precautions ahead of time so it doesn’t happen in the first place.

“Don’t leave children unattended in a car, use sunblock and properly condition yourself to the sun. Don’t just go right out and spend all day in the sun if you haven’t in a while, go out gradually to get used to it.

“If you are playing sports outside in the summer, be sure to drink eight ounces of liquid for every 15 minutes of moderate exercise. Also, if you’re not used to the heat, you should dress appropriately.”

Part of preventing heat exhaustion or stroke is also looking out for those who are at risk and may not be able to look out for themselves.

“Check on the elderly and those in poor physical condition. Especially people with chronic diseases like diabetes.”

Young children and infants are also at risk because they often cannot explain in any way that they are feeling ill from the heat.

“I remember we had an eight-month-old infant who was hospitalized with dehydration after being in a warm in environment for a long time. He was exhibiting signs of lethargy, so parents should look for that as a sign.”