We don’t have to tell our readers what to do when it gets hot out. Many of us were born and raised here, or have had at least enough triple-digit experience to know what to do to protect ourselves.
Water, shade, covered up, sunscreen on, take periodic breaks, and the litany of instructions goes on and on.
But there are a couple segments of our population that don’t always get that, namely children and some seniors, and our pets.
Monday and today are excessive heat warnings, with temperatures expected between 108 and 112 degrees. While it’s not our first heat warnings of the season, it is likely the point of no return until mid-fall.
From here on out there will be more excessively hot days than not, and while we may know what’s best for us, our children, some of our elders and certainly our domestic animals do not.
Kids will be kids, and they like to play, play, play. But children can become dehydrated and suffer heat stroke, too. And they can suffer the long-term effects of sun damage on their skin, as well.
Make sure the young ones under our charge are well taken care of, that they drink lots of water, limit their play time in the extreme parts of the afternoon, wear lots of sunscreen and eat healthy foods.
There are two things to remember about the effects of the sun and heat. Once a person gets heatstroke, even if in childhood, there is always an increased vulnerability to the heat from that point on.
What’s more, it’s been proven that sunburns at a young age can put an individual on that unhealthy road to skin cancer and related problems. That’s why sunscreen is essential for the children, even teens among us.
Now for some seniors, those who are still living independently and on fixed incomes can try to circumvent added costs by not running their air conditioning. We’ve seen it time and again around here.
Thankfully, the Imperial County Public Health Department does reach out to organizations and business to establish cool centers to seniors and others who might be away from areas of protection and comfort.
But truth be told, cool zones aim to help seniors more than anyone.
It’s always good to check on our parents, grandparents and relatives who are getting up there in years to make sure they have everything they might need.
That brings us to pets, often the most neglected group of all. Some of us leave our pets to fend for themselves in backyards, but that can be cruel if they have no shade structures or adequate supplies of water.
Pets can’t communicate they are in crisis the way humans can, so if we’re not prepared to pay attention to them, then we risk losing them. Let’s take care of all our creatures, great and small.
Summer can be a trying time for people in this area. In some ways, modernity can make us less equipped to use common sense in the heat. Our local pioneers who did not have the things we have like endless supplies of cold water or air conditioning, had to be on guard at all times. Are we?
THE ISSUE:
Excessive heat warnings kick off temps.
WE SAY:
Let’s make sure we take care of ourselves, our kids, seniors and pets.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Send us your thoughts on this topic to www.ivpressonline.com/letterstotheeditor
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
Water, shade, covered up, sunscreen on, take periodic breaks, and the litany of instructions goes on and on.
But there are a couple segments of our population that don’t always get that, namely children and some seniors, and our pets.
Monday and today are excessive heat warnings, with temperatures expected between 108 and 112 degrees. While it’s not our first heat warnings of the season, it is likely the point of no return until mid-fall.
From here on out there will be more excessively hot days than not, and while we may know what’s best for us, our children, some of our elders and certainly our domestic animals do not.
Kids will be kids, and they like to play, play, play. But children can become dehydrated and suffer heat stroke, too. And they can suffer the long-term effects of sun damage on their skin, as well.
Make sure the young ones under our charge are well taken care of, that they drink lots of water, limit their play time in the extreme parts of the afternoon, wear lots of sunscreen and eat healthy foods.
There are two things to remember about the effects of the sun and heat. Once a person gets heatstroke, even if in childhood, there is always an increased vulnerability to the heat from that point on.
What’s more, it’s been proven that sunburns at a young age can put an individual on that unhealthy road to skin cancer and related problems. That’s why sunscreen is essential for the children, even teens among us.
Now for some seniors, those who are still living independently and on fixed incomes can try to circumvent added costs by not running their air conditioning. We’ve seen it time and again around here.
Thankfully, the Imperial County Public Health Department does reach out to organizations and business to establish cool centers to seniors and others who might be away from areas of protection and comfort.
But truth be told, cool zones aim to help seniors more than anyone.
It’s always good to check on our parents, grandparents and relatives who are getting up there in years to make sure they have everything they might need.
That brings us to pets, often the most neglected group of all. Some of us leave our pets to fend for themselves in backyards, but that can be cruel if they have no shade structures or adequate supplies of water.
Pets can’t communicate they are in crisis the way humans can, so if we’re not prepared to pay attention to them, then we risk losing them. Let’s take care of all our creatures, great and small.
Summer can be a trying time for people in this area. In some ways, modernity can make us less equipped to use common sense in the heat. Our local pioneers who did not have the things we have like endless supplies of cold water or air conditioning, had to be on guard at all times. Are we?
THE ISSUE:
Excessive heat warnings kick off temps.
WE SAY:
Let’s make sure we take care of ourselves, our kids, seniors and pets.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Send us your thoughts on this topic to www.ivpressonline.com/letterstotheeditor
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
