Mercury creeps up as summer settles in

By The Associated Press

The mild spring that brought plenty of rain and even a late freeze has given way to summer heat in Arkansas.

The heat index in central Arkansas on Tuesday neared 100 degrees and folks should expect high temperatures to regularly be in the low to mid 90s for the rest of July and into August, said meteorologist Chuck Rickard of the National Weather Service office in North Little Rock.

With the arrival of high temperatures, officials are urging residents to be mindful of the symptoms of heat stress and to remember that the heat can be deadly.

Ten people died in Arkansas from heat-related causes last year, and the state is averaging 9.3 deaths per year over the past decade, Arkansas Health Department spokesman Ed Barham said. In 1980, during a merciless heat wave, 153 Arkansans died from heat-related causes.

The most dangerous time is the first couple of days of a stretch of hot weather, said Dr. James Phillips, acting state epidemiologist for the Health Department. After the first two days, people become acclimated, thus lowering their chance of becoming a victim.

Most at risk are older people, though people of any age or fitness level can develop heat-related symptoms.

Older people, particularly those with cardiac disease or cardiopulmonary disease, are the most vulnerable, Phillips said.

"One of the situations that occurs, and we see this all too frequently, is individuals dying at home with their air conditioners off because they want to save money," Phillips said. With costs rising for food and fuel, older people trying to stretch their dollars could be more vulnerable than usual this year, he said.

One solution is for people to check on elderly relatives and other older folks they know. It's important for the older people to use their air conditioners or go somewhere cool - a neighbor's house, a public facility or a cooling center established to help the vulnerable survive.

The Salvation Army opened a cooling center Tuesday at its facility near downtown Little Rock. Maj. Harvey Johnson said the center will be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every day, including weekends.

"It's hot every day," Johnson said. Anyone can stay for the evening meal after 4 p.m..

About a dozen people entered in the first half hour the center was open Tuesday, enjoying water, soft drinks and snacks, and sitting in plastic chairs among rows of tables.

Dana Lane, originally from Camden, was among those who came in. She said she planned to be at the center every afternoon until she moves into an apartment next week.

"It's so hot I can't even breathe, so humid," she said. The temperature outside was 92 degrees, with 51 percent humidity under a clear sky.

The cooling center opened with support from the city of Little Rock and the local Feed the Hungry organization, all of whom are working to spread the word that there's a place to cool off in the afternoons.

Johnson said the decision was made only Monday to open the center, which is open to anyone, not just the homeless.

Phillips said there would be fewer heat-related illnesses if people would monitor themselves.

"If you notice that you seem to be exhausted - you don't have the strength, the task is more difficult, you're breathing hard - stop. Get in a cooler environment, even if that is just getting in the shade," Phillips said.

"If you feel your mental faculties are not working well, that your mind's not working right, that's another warning that one should take measures to cool the body temperature down," he said.

The young can be at an elevated risk because of their "can-do philosophy," Phillips said. For this reason, he said it is important for coaches to be aware and for players to speak up if they are having symptoms during summer football practices.

Rickard said the hit-or-miss rain storms that the state has had lately will do little to cool temperatures.

To bring temperatures below normal, the state would need a "big, general rainfall," the likes of which could be seen if a tropical system moves over Arkansas.

"That would come into play late July through August and September," Rickard said. "You can't forecast that (now) ... there's a lot of factors that come into play," he said.