FIRST PERSON | Air conditioning repair calls are going out by the thousands, and in Fergus Falls, Minn., many retailers are reporting they are having trouble keeping AC units in stock.
The manager of a local Sears outlet in Fergus Falls said, "I am all out at the moment. I sell them as fast I get them."
A National Weather forecaster called the heat wave "unrelenting" for residents of 17 states across the middle of the country, according to Fox News. In Livonia, Mich., the city is providing a cooling place for residents that do not have air-conditioning, or are experiencing a power-outage, in their National Recreation Center.
Emergency cooling centers are being set up throughout the country in areas of the South and Midwest; temperatures could reach as high as 115 degrees in some places. Temperatures are being compared to Death Valley in some of the states hit the hardest from Oklahoma to South Dakota.
I feel lucky that I live on the Oregon coast, where temperatures in the summer rarely exceed 70 degrees. But, having lived in South Dakota for two summers, I can certainly relate to the dangerous toll humidity and high temperatures can do to your body. Some people are more sensitive to heat than others, and I've experienced heat exhaustion more than a few times.
Signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke
If you are exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion, be sure to get to a cooler environment as soon as possible and re-hydrate with plenty of water.
Signs of heat exhaustion include extreme sweating, dizziness and weakness, nausea and/or vomiting, headaches and muscle cramps.
If heat exhaustion is not treated immediately, it can lead to heat stroke. In cases of heat stroke, your body's temperature regulation system fails. You can become confused, lethargic and might even have a seizure. Heat stroke is life-threatening.
Tips for surviving a heat wave
If you don't have an air-conditioned home, get to a place that does. Go to one of the many cooling centers that have opened, or during the day go to a shopping mall, public library, or any place with air-conditioning.
Drink cool, non-alcoholic beverages (alcohol dehydrates). I've also found that a freezer full of popsicles is wonderful during days of extreme heat.
If you must go outside, wear appropriate light-weight clothing and put on plenty of sunscreen. Take breaks in a cool area as often as possible.
This should go without saying, but never ever leave pets or children in the car. Temperatures can rise as much as 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, even if the windows are cracked.
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