The First Real Hot Weather Of The Summer Is Expected This Weekend

The first real hot weather of summer comes on the 4th of July Weekend.

Jackson County EMS Public Information Officer Derek Woolbright said an unexpected heatwave can feel worse when it hasn’t been very warm in the lead-up. He said over a holiday weekend this can lead to an increase in heat-related emergencies.

“We have so much water in our county, so many areas of recreation where people are out and about,” Woolbright said. “And people a lot of times when they’re used to it being cooler they just don’t plan ahead, think to hydrate themselves, that kind of thing, which leads us to dealing with things like heat exhaustion, heat stroke, things of that nature.”

Woolbright said hydration is the most important thing you can do to prevent overheating. He said it is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and less soft drinks and alcohol.

“It’s really important for people to think moderation,” Woolbright said. “Whether its their amount of time outside, moderation in the alcohol they’re consuming, or moderation in taking water breaks when they’re outside working.”

Woolbright said if you are beginning to overheat, simply going inside or getting out of the sun could prevent it from becoming an emergency.

“The most important thing, it sounds obvious, but it’s to remove yourself from the heat,” Woolbright said. “Find somewhere that’s shaded, find somewhere that’s air-conditioned to try to cool yourself off.”

Woolbright said if you are going to be consuming alcohol, it is important to drink water in between to stay hydrated.