Oklahoma Expert Gives Tips To Stay Safe In Extreme Heat

The dangerous heat Oklahoma is seeing can quickly lead to physical complications. It’s the reason experts recommend staying inside. 

Not every person has that option. Not every job can avoid the heat. 

“This is the hottest, driest summer I can remember,” says Kyle Taylor. “It’s just part of the job you know.” 

His lawncare company, Taylor Made Lawns, typically works on 8 to 12 lawns a day. 

“You try to take time off in the heat of the day, but sometimes with a full schedule you just have no choice but to be out in it,” he explains. 

He tries to take a cool-down break after each yard he finishes, but it still makes for a long and difficult day. 

“I do kind of dread the heat like this,” he says laughing. “You just know it’s going to be painful and it takes forever and it’s exhausting.” 

The exhaustion is caused by the body working overtime to keep cool. 

In the heat of the day, the body can lose 1 to 2 liters of water per hour. 

“Most of us don’t drink that much,” says Dr. Lacy Anderson with Primary Health Partners. “We drink a water bottle an hour. That’s nowhere near what we’re losing.” 

Dr. Anderson says if not replenished, that loss can lead to serious issues. 

“As lower blood pressure happens, it affects the perfusion of all the organs including the brain, or the kidneys. In some cases, patients can go into acute kidney failure because they get severely dehydrated.” 

Taylor says he knows the importance of hydration, drinking 12 to 14 bottles of water every day. 

It’s a lesson he says he learned after succumbing to heat exhaustion twice. 

“You can tell it coming on. You get kind of clammy feeling and maybe goosebumps,” he describes. “Definitely want to watch for those early signs.” 

Dr. Anderson also recommends wearing long, moisture-wicking shirts and pants. She also says you should take a 10-minute cooling break every 30 to 45 minutes.