In a manner of speaking, you could say beating our current heat wave is all about proper maintenance.
That goes for your body and also your vehicle. Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell says certain vehicles may be prone to breakdowns.
Fell encourages drivers to have water in their vehicles and have their cell phones charged in case of a vehicle breakdown.
5 am Thursday: Excessive heat warning announced for Lyon, most surrounding counties through Friday
Believe it or not, the recent run of heat kicks up a notch Thursday.
Air temperatures around 103 and projected heat index readings of 103-110 areawide have prompted the National Weather Service to announce an excessive heat warning for Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties for Thursday and Friday. The warning reflects “dangerously prolonged hot conditions” as well as the risk for heat-related illnesses, especially for people working outside or taking part in outdoor activities.
Cloud cover Wednesday morning only delayed the inevitable as Emporia had its second straight 100-degree day.
Temperatures stayed mostly in the upper 80s through late morning but rapidly increased as clouds thinned. Emporia peaked at 103 degrees with a top heat index reading of 108.
As the heat continues, you’re asked — again — to drink lots of water, wear light, loose-fitting clothes and stay out of the heat as much as possible, but you’re also asked to monitor your body for signs of heat-related stress:
*Heat exhaustion symptoms include feeling faint or dizzy, excessive sweating, cramps, clammy skin, nausea or vomiting and a rapid, weak pulse. Heat exhaustion victims should get to a cooler place, drink water if fully conscious and take a cool shower or use cold compresses.
*Heat stroke victims may not sweat at all. Other symptoms include confusion, hot and dry skin with body temperatures above 103, nausea or vomiting, a rapid and strong pulse and possible loss of consciousness. People need to call 911 for heat stroke victims, with other first aid guidelines including a lot of cooling for the skin with water, cold compresses, ice baths or fans, with cold wet cloths or ice on areas like the head, neck, armpits or groin.
KVOE News is keeping separate lists on local and area cooling centers as well as schedule adjustments as part of stories online at KVOE.com. Click here for the list of cooling centers. Click here for the schedule adjustments.
If you need to add to either list, call KVOE at 620-342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com or message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.