Extreme heat hits Colorado

PEOPLE ARRIVED AT ISLAND GROVE REGIONAL PARK | Hundreds of Hispanic families in Greeley, Colorado, found a way to protect themselves from the extreme temperatures. (Photo/César Torres-El Comercio de Colorado)

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HIGH TEMPERATURES

Sofía Márquez/ El Comercio de Colorado

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Coloradans are experiencing an abnormal and extreme rise in temperatures this summer. The state has seen an increase in heat that has gone from the typical temperatures of 90 to 100 degrees, up to 104 in the hottest days in the penultimate week of August 2022. According to the U.S National Climate Assessment, 26 counties in the southeast of the state are expected to exceed their regular July 2022 temperatures by 5 degrees.

“It is important to understand that these high temperatures are part of a global phenomenon. These temperatures are due to climate change, and it is crucial we pay attention to the way it works and how it manifests itself. We all expect the heat during the summer, but due to climate change we are seeing high temperatures much higher than normal,” said Marina La Grave, Boulder County Representative on Climate Equity.

Weather warnings

Since early July, weather warnings have been issued due to dangerous temperatures throughout the state. For humans, reaching dangerous levels of heat means that the external temperature reaches levels that cannot be regulated by our body. “The temperature of the body increases along with the temperature of its environment, since we humans try to match the external temperature,” explains La Grave.

Since the normal human body temperature is 98.6 F, once the heat reaches 100 degrees, we try to regulate our body heat. This expert provides more details, “when we are facing very high temperatures, we can experience symptoms of overheating such as headaches, sweating, fatigue. In those cases it also happens that people tend to feel disoriented.”

Mobile home problems

“In areas of the state with little shade, like the eastern plains, people have a hard time finding a place outside to cool off. Generally, if there is no shade, people must go inside and use the air conditioning. If they don’t have it, they will only be protected if their homes have insulation that protects them from the extreme heat outside,” explains La Grave.

Problems arise when people do not have adequate insulation in their homes and the outside heat affects them even inside where they are supposed to be protected. Some mobile home areas would be at high risk in which, due to their installation conditions, it is difficult to install air conditioners as well as some form of insulation.

How to protect yourself?

Prevent heat-related illnesses

●      Stay indoors with air conditioning.

●      Visit cooling stations in your city if you don’t have air conditioning.

●      Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink it.

●      Avoid drinking sugary and caffeinated beverages.

●      Take cool showers or baths to cool down.

●      Keep the oven or stove off to reduce the heat in your residence.

●      Limit your outdoor activity especially at midday

For those who work outdoors

●      Wear loose, light-colored clothing.

●      Wear a hat.

●      Apply sunscreen frequently.

●      Drink water and non-sugar liquids

●      Avoid exposing yourself to the sun in the midday hours

●      Ensure you are around people

●      Stay out of parked vehicles on hot days

●      Pay attention to muscle cramps.

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