Another Scorcher of a Day in Cumming

It's going to be another scorcher of a day with temperatures expected to reach the high 90s. The Cumming area is under a heat advisory in effect from 11 a.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday morning and a Code Orange unhealthy air alert.

According to the advisory issued by the National Weather Service and Weather Bug, the heat advisory is for portions of north and central Georgia, including Forsyth County. The area is expected to have heat  index readings from 107 to 111 (an increase from Tuesday's readings which were 103 to 107). This produces hazardous conditions for outdoor activities.

A heat advisory means that a period of dangerous heat is expected. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and stay out of direct sunshine. Remember the elderly, very young and people with heart conditions are most at risk in extreme heat. Friends, relatives and neighbors should check on people who may be at risk. People are advised to reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or after sunset where possible and to know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The following advice from the Centers for Disease Control and National Center for Environmental Health was issued in a press release from the Better Business Bureau.

• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.

• Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
 

• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
 

• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
 

• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
 

• NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
 Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on infants and young children, people who have a mental illness and those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure. Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

If you must be out in the heat:

• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.

• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first “tip” (above), too.

• Try to rest often in shady areas.

• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).

The forecast for the Cumming area:

Today: Mostly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms - highs in the upper 90s and Heat Index readings from 107 to 111.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening - then a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows dropping to the mid 70's.