Snow cone stands opening up, kids splashing in the local pool and freshly cut watermelon are all indicators that summer is here and accompanied with summer is the Oklahoma heat.
According to the National Weather Service, a heat index advisory was put in place on Monday with temperatures reaching up to 105 degrees and lasting until Wednesday night.
Although the heat index advisory is over, the high for today, Thursday, is 99.
The Lincoln County Health Department Health Educator Tonya Reid shared some tips to battle the heat this summer.
Those tips include preemptively drinking water, before you get thirsty and wearing sunscreen regardless of your skin tone.
Sunscreen of at least 15 spf should be used, it should be applied 30 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours.
To prevent heat illnesses, wear lightweight and light colored clothing, try and schedule any outdoor activities in the morning to avoid the strong heat and take regular breaks.
Symptoms of a heat stroke include a high body temperature of 103 or higher, headache, dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness, confusion, a fast pulse and hot skin. Owner of Lincoln County Animal Hospital, Theresa
Owner of Lincoln County Animal Hospital, Theresa McKinzie gave tips for pet owners to keep their furry friends safe throughout the next few months.
McKinzie said the age, breed and health of a pet are all contributing factors to how it will respond to the heat.
“There’s no magic number or magic heat index number that is going to be right for every pet,” she said.
Another important factor is how well the animal is acclimated to the heat.
“If it’s a dog that stays outside all the time they’re probably going to be fine as long as you don’t tie them up and they have plenty of fresh water and shade,” she said. “An indoor dog that stays inside most of the time and is not acclimated to the outdoors, if you leave it outside in the heat, they could die very quickly.”
McKinzie said it’s important to provide fresh water and plenty of shade for any pets staying outside.
“Dogs that are tethered outside have a higher risk of adverse events in extreme heat, especially in the car,” she said. “A big thing we run into is leaving pets in cars.”
McKinzie said even if a pet is left in the car with the car running and the air conditioning on, the pet could still overheat.
“The old, the young and anything that’s not acclimated to the heat is at risk,” she said.
Another contributing factor is the pet’s health. McKinzie explained that dogs pant to cool themselves down, whenever they are overweight, it is harder for them to pant and cool themselves.
“Obesity adds to any major problems they could have,” she said.
Regardless of size, McKinzie said the old and the young struggle with the heat.
“If they’re not used to staying outside in the heat don’t leave them out. Period,” she said.
When it comes to large animals like horses and cattle, McKinzie said something like a sprinkler or mister that will continually mist throughout the heat of the day is needed to keep them cool.
“You can drop the temperature in the barn significantly,” she said. “It’s really important that they don’t get overheated.”