We've got the heat
By From staff reports
Published in News on June 18, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Hines Sitework Inc. laborers Thomas Baltazar, left, and Maurice Amaker take a break from working on Center Street construction on Wednesday to drink a cold bottle of water. Amaker says he drinks water constantly, uses wet rags and pours water down his helmet to keep cool during the long days working outside in the record-breaking heat.
This week is a scorcher, but Wayne County has seen hotter temperatures -- even as far back as 1918.
Terry Click with the National Weather Service in Raleigh said record temperatures for the week of June 15-21 occurred as far back as 97 years.
"Our data show the record as far back as almost a century -- 1918, 1920 -- but the most recent one we've got was 2002," Click said. "No records have been set since then. The records that have been set have all been in the 101 degrees (Fahrenheit) range."
And while these are not record temperatures, no medical aid facilities have seen a spike in heat-related cases.
Salvation Army Capt. Kenny Igleheart said he has received a few calls at home from people asking about fans or air conditioners. He has only had a few calls at his office asking about cooling equipment.
"Overall we have not had a significant number of calls," he said.
Nor have people been coming into the building to cool down, he said.
Normally emergency medical services will contact the Salvation Army to open a "cooling shelter," he said. But as of Wednesday afternoon, no such request had been made.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Wayne County Office of Emergency Management had received three calls that could be heat-related, said Craig Brown with the 911 center.
All three calls involved people who had either passed out or were unresponsive.
Two calls were on Monday, one in Dudley and the other in the Saulston community.
In the Dudley call, a woman in her early 20s was found unresponsive under a tree. She was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital.
The Saulston call was about 3 p.m. Monday. The man was not transported. No age was listed.
The third call was Tuesday night at 9 p.m. in the New Hope community. A man complained of chest pains and dizziness. He told first responders he had been having the symptoms for a couple of hours before calling for help. He was also transported to the hospital.
No age was listed.
Jason Sherrer -- the Wayne Post 11 legion baseball team coach and University of Mount Olive assistant baseball coach -- is from Arizona.
The heat is not an issue to him.
He grew up playing ball in 120-degree heat.
"It's the humidity that makes it tough," he said.
The heat this week has not stopped his team's practice or games.
"You're playing summer baseball, you know (the heat) is coming. You just hope it holds off until after the season," he said.
That is not the case this week. The team played Monday evening in 95-degree weather and has a home game Friday evening.
"I know it's going to be a little toasty," Sherrer said.
He monitors his team constantly to make sure they're staying safe. He knows the boys well enough to know when something is off.
"I don't care if they're three for three, I'd rather take them out and keep them safe," he said.
He credits the parents for keeping the boys hydrated and rested before the games.
"I remember it used to be tough to not need water," he laughed. "Now we send water bottles out to their positions. We want to make sure nobody gets hurt over water."
Sherrer subs his players out midway to relieve boys who have become overheated. There are not heat cancellations, but Sherrer adjusts the pre-game practice if it is a hot day.
"We'll shorten the batting rounds or something. We want to make sure it is 100 percent effort during the game. Both teams play in the same heat. We might as well get a win," he said.
Local baseball teams are not the only ones dealing with scorching heat this week.
The recent heat wave prompted members of Cub Scout Pack 34 to cut short their stay at Camp Tuscarora by a day.
Because of the heat, an extra water station was set up at the camp and the boys had extra time at the lake.
Boys who went on a hike and overnight camping trip were given extra water and Gatorade.
While there were no real problems, one boy did get hot and was not allowed to go on the overnight trip.
With record highs expected to stick around throughout the week and into the weekend, the threat of heat exhaustion and dehydration continue to be a concern -- especially for those working outside.
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the last heat-related fatality in North Carolina was on July 13, 2011, in Magnolia. The fatality was a farm worker who experienced light-headedness and confusion while collecting eggs and subsequently died.