By John David Sutter
The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK)
Copyright 2006 The Oklahoman, All Rights Reserved
Oklahoma City and Tulsa health authorities issued heat alerts for this week after seeing record-setting high temperatures and ambulance runs for heat-related illnesses.
Tulsa recorded its hottest temperature of the year Sunday — 105 degrees — as triple-digit temperatures continued to sear Oklahoma.
The state’s highest temperature Sunday was 108 degrees, recorded in Stillwater. The thermometer reached 107 in Lawton and Bartlesville, and 106 in Norman, Ardmore, Cherokee, Alva, Walters, Waurika, Copan, Pawnee and Guthrie.
The high temperature in Oklahoma City also was 105 degrees, the eighth straight day and 12th time in the past 13 days that the state capital has reached triple digits. The thermometer has broken into triple-digit territory in Oklahoma City 24 days this year.
Lara O’Leary, spokeswoman for the Emergency Medical Services Authority, urged all Oklahomans during the coming week to stay out of the heat as much as possible. O’Leary said those who must go outside should drink lots of water, pace themselves and take plenty of breaks.
“We urge folks to beef up their water intake, even maybe drink more water then they might think is normal,” she said.
Oklahoma City’s alert will last until the heat breaks, O’Leary said.
Symptoms of heat-related illnesses vary greatly, said Chuck Collins, an EMSA paramedic.
With heat exhaustion, people may suffer from muscle cramps, weakness, chills, nausea or headaches.
With the more serious heatstroke, a fever of at least 104 degrees is common, he said. People with heatstroke often stop sweating as their bodies use up all available moisture to try to stay cool. Dry mouth and a weak or rapid pulse are other symptoms, he said.
Collins said the old and young are particularly vulnerable.