YES, I AM STILL HERE looking out my window on Main Street, and I want to assure both of my regular readers that I have little risk of suffering a heat-related condition.
According to the Arkansas Health Department, the most common heat-related illnesses are heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn, and heat rash.
It is important to know the warning signs and what actions to take if someone experiences one of these illnesses.
Ordinarily I am the very person the health department is warning.
Heat stress is heat-related illness caused by the body’s inability to cool down properly.
The body normally cools itself by sweating, but under certain conditions sweating is not enough. People who have higher risks for heat stress or heat-related death include seniors 65 or older, anyone overweight, and those who are ill or on certain medications.
If you looked at the above paragraph you are correct if you think I qualify for several of those criteria.
I try to drink lots of water, but I sometimes confuse the refrigerator water jug with other containers in the refrigerator (this is because I do not bend over so good and I don’t get a good look at what I’m reaching for; also, if I bend over too far I might accidentally perform heat-inducing exercises).
I jest, but our heated days are really dangerous.
The Health Department has some simple tips to prevent heat stress:
•Stay in an air-conditioned area during the hottest hours of the day. If your home does not have air conditioning, consider public places like a library or senior center, or tavern (my addition).
•Wear light, loose-fitted clothing.
•Drink water often. Don’t wait until you are thirsty.
•Avoid unnecessary hard work or activities if you are outside or without air conditioning (this especially applies to me).
•Avoid unnecessary sun exposure. Wear a hat and sunglasses when you are in the sun.
•And this is a tip I’ve added: Hire someone else to do your outside work — best to get someone young and healthy, although I have found they are not so interested in work.
Know the symptoms of Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke and Heat Cramps.
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THE GOOD EARTH. A news story this week which drew little attention because of the events in Ukraine and Russia, and the number of criminal and civil trials of a former president.
The news story at a science site on the Internet was that for the first time, electricity generated by solar and wind was greater than the volume of electricity generated by coal plants.
The measure was taken over the first five months of 2023, and was attributed to an outfit called the U.S. Electrical Information Agency.
This is a good omen, if — like me — you believe that eventually we gotta stop burning coal and oil.
There is no overnight success, but we’ll get there by little steps. The measure of electricity generated by different methods did not take into account hydroelectric generation. That’s okay — I like electricity made by renewable resources like wind, sun and flowing water.
There was another recent article to the effect that a different mostly unheard-of company had successfully ‘caught’ solar energy by a orbiting satellite and transmitted it back to Earth where it was used to accomplish a task. This was admittedly small-scale, but it is another of our small steps.
PLUS it could easily be turned into a death ray.
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LOCK YOUR CARS. (This is another repeat revelation). There’s been a wave of nighttime thefts from unlocked cars in Nashville.
My daughter taught me well when she was in law enforcement.
Lock your cars, and lock your house doors when you are not at home.
Don’t leave anything of value in your buggy because if it is in sight someone will figger a way to liberate it.
It only takes one time to make you real sorry you didn’t take precautions.
This common sense advice if for BOTH rural and urban dwellers … and judges.
See our article on the city council this week in which the police chief tells more about these thieves.
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THINGS I LEARNED by opening another email: “Every box of raisins is a tragic tale of grapes that could have been wine.”
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WORD GAMES. The starstruck triplets: Stage, Screen and Television.
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HE SAID: “I guess you’d call me an independent, since I’ve never identified myself with one party or another in politics. I always decide my vote by taking as careful a look as I can at the actual candidates and issues themselves, no matter what the party label.” Jackie Robinson, baseball hall-of-famer
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SHE SAID: “I wouldn’t approach the issue of judging in the way the president does. Judges can’t rely on what’s in their heart. They don’t determine the law. Congress makes the law. The job of a judge is to apply the law.” Sonia Sotomayor, US Supreme Court
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SWEET DREAMS, Baby
