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By Natalie Eckberg
|  With temperatures soaring and remaining in the triple digits, the El Paso Extreme Weather Task Force is soliciting fans as part of its annual “Hot Weather Safety Awareness” campaign.
The task force, founded in 2002, is composed of more than 20 agencies that try to prevent weather-related casualties.
Director of the Rio Grande Agency on Aging Yvette Lugo, who serves on the task force, said 322 fans have been distributed as of press date. Only 30 individual fan donations have been received. As of the press date, the task force was out of fans.
“We are collecting donations for people vulnerable to heat exhaustion – senior citizens, the disabled, those who are ill and families with small children,” she said. “With the extreme weather we have been seeing lately, we want to make sure that anyone who needs a fan is taken care of.”
Last summer in the City of El Paso, four people died because of the heat, said Dorothy Baca, public safety and community development representative for El Paso Electric.
“Our ultimate goal is zero,” she said. “But with this year being predicted to be one of the hottest summers we’ve had in a long time, we know we need to be very proactive to work towards that goal.”
As part of the campaign, the task force is working towards educating the public on the negative effects of the heat and how to take precaution measures.
The Extreme Weather Task Force stresses use of the “Buddy System” to help save lives.
“With the ‘Buddy System,’ we encourage the people of El Paso to look out for one another,” said Lugo. “On days when it is particularly hot during the summer, check on your friend, neighbor or relative to see if they are in distress or need anything. It just takes a simple call or visit to make sure that they are okay.”
Those most at-risk for heat related illness include: the elderly, infants under the age of one in homes without air conditioning, the ill and disabled and persons taking certain prescription medications such as diuretics, sedatives and narcotics. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heat-related illnesses range from heat stroke to heat exhaustion to cramps.
Educating the public is a top priority for the task force, said Baca.
“There are many ways for people to cool off if they are starting to feel the effects of the heat,” she said. “They can go to a public place such as a mall or a library that is free and has refrigerated air. Take a cool shower. Don’t do outdoor activity such as mowing your yard at the hottest time of the day. Wear light clothing. All of these small changes will really make a difference.”
New fan donations can be dropped off at any local fire station. Monetary donations can be made payable to the “El Paso Times Extreme Weather Task Force” fund.
Those in need of a fan should call 211 – the area’s general hotline – to begin the eligibility review. If qualified, task force representatives will assess conditions in the home to ensure the house has proper ventilation to avoid circulating hot air.
Tips
• Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella.
• Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.
• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m.
• Stay indoors when possible. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air.
• Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.
• Learn Red Cross first aid and CPR.
General care for heat emergencies:
Heat cramps or heat exhaustion: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. If the person is fully awake and alert, give half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not let him or her drink too quickly. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number if the person refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness.
Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headache, muscle cramps and aches and dizziness. Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.
(Source: American Red Cross)
Comments or questions about this story? E-mail swsenior@elpasoinc.com
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