© 2024 Red River Radio
Voice of the Community
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Excessive Heat Wave Hits Red River Radio Listening Area

Courtesy: Pixabay Public Domain Images

HEAT WAVE - The National Weather Service has issued a HEAT ADVISORY  in effect until 11am  and  an  EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING   has  also  been issued  and will remain in effect  until  8pm.  That means a prolonged period of dangerously  hot temperatures  will occur.  Hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous  situation in which heat illnesses are likely, things  like  heat  exhaustion  or  deadly heat stroke.

Now  we’ve  had heat waves before and during our last bout of super-hot weather, we spoke with  Dr. Todd Thoma, Coroner for Caddo Parish who is  also an  Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport and explains the symptoms of a heat related illness.

Credit Courtesy: Caddo Parish Coroner website
/
Courtesy: Caddo Parish Coroner website
Dr. Todd Thoma, Coroner for Caddo Parish and Assoc. Prof. of Emergency Medicine / LSU-HSC-Shreveport

"People will develop symptoms similar to the flu. They'll have headaches, body aches, sometimes you can eve mistake it for the flu; but it's not it's a heat-related illness."

Dr. Thoma explains there are some simple steps a person can take to prevent a heat-related illness. 

"Things that can be done to prevent situations like that is to stay adequately hydrated, stay out of the direct heat. If you're going to exercise or do anything outdoors, do it very early in the morning or very late at night. Keep up with your fluids is very important,  light-colored cotton clothing is important and recognizing the warning signs."

Credit Courtesy: Pixabay Public Domain Images
/
Courtesy: Pixabay Public Domain Images
COOLING DOWN - Pets, children, and the elderly are most at risk for heat-related illness during heat waves.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room,  avoid sun exposure, and check up on relatives and neighbors, be sure your pets have plenty of shade and water. And always keep track of your kids.  According to National Weather Service, of those heat-related deaths involving children in cars, 28% of those children entered unlocked cars on their own. 

Click here for  Child Safety Tips - Prevent Heat-Related Deaths

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.