Temps set record in Florence today

The first blast of heat this year was a record-setting event in eastern South Carolina.

Though summer doesn’t officially start until later in the month, today’s high temperature in the Pee Dee—97 degrees at 4 p.m.—eclipsed the 96-degree record set in 1993, WBTW News13 Chief Meteorologist Frank Johnson said.

The National Weather Service has posted heat advisories for the Pee Dee and Grand Strand and adjoining North Carolina communities from noon to 8 p.m.

The advisory calls for daytime heat indices of 105 falling to 100 into the evening. Those conditions are forecasted to last through Friday and Saturday, according to the NOAA bulletin.

The heat, combined with a dew point of around 70 degrees, will make being outside uncomfortable, according to the NOAA bulletin.

“People should be especially cautious as this is the first real dose of high heat and humidity of the season and our bodies will require time to adjust to these conditions,” according to the NOAA bulletin.

The Centers for Disease Control’s Web site indicates prevention is key to staying safe in heat and lists these tips:

• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.  
• Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.  
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.  
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.  
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.  
• NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.  
• Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on:
   
  • Infants and young children
  • People aged 65 or older
  • People who have a mental illness
  • Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure

   

• Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

If you must be out in the heat:

• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.  
• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour.  A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first “tip” (above), too.  
• Try to rest often in shady areas.  
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).