As summer approaches, it's important to keep mindful of the dangers of the high temperatures we experience here in San Antonio.
We talked with Melissa Sparks, the public information officer for the San Antonio Fire Department, about strategies for staying safe by keeping cool.
Question: South Texas gets extremely warm during the summer months. How high does the temperature outside need to get to be considered "dangerous heat?"
Answer: It’s not just high temperatures that make a hot summer day dangerous. A combination of a temperature in the low 90s and high humidity and a cloudless, sunny day can bring on heat-related illnesses. Similarly, a hot but cloudy day can trick people into thinking they don’t need as much water or shade, and that can cause heat-related illness.
Question: What are the safety concerns when it comes to having children and pets in the vehicle during summer months?
Answer: Many people think they can leave their child or pet in the car while they run a quick errand to get a coffee or pay a bill. That quick errand usually lasts at least 10 minutes, and the temperature inside a car can increase 10 degrees in just 10 minutes. When it’s in the high 90s outside, the temperature inside a closed, non-running car can quickly jump into the 100s. Cracking a window does not help in any way. Children are especially sensitive to extreme changes in temperature and can suffer serious physical consequences. Their bodies can not compensate for the high temperatures.
Question: What are some ways to stay cool in the heat?
Answer: Plan your day before you head out. Check the weather and wear appropriate loose-fitting clothing with light colors and breathable fabrics. Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen. Bring water with you everywhere you go. If you’re outside for long periods of time, seek out shady areas and take water breaks regularly. A hot, cloudy day requires just as much caution as a hot, sunny day. Be sure that you and those around you know about the signs of heat-related illnesses so you can be proactive about spotting a person in trouble. Look for pale skin, weakness, feeling nauseated or dizzy, or having a headache or muscle cramps.
Question: How does the San Antonio Fire Department help out with the local "Project Cool" program?
Answer: Project Cool is a program run by the Department of Community Initiatives and several community partners, like Catholic Charities and KENS 5. People can donate a box fan at any fire station, and those fans are distributed to any elderly resident of Bexar County through 211. Our elderly neighbors will often suffer through the heat in silence, but these fan donations make it easier for them to withstand the Texas summer.
Question: What should someone do if they think they are suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke?
Answer: Signs of heat exhaustion include pale skin, weakness, feeling nauseated or dizzy, or having a headache or muscle cramps. If you think you or someone around you is suffering from heat exhaustion, immediately move to a cooler place, preferably out of the sun and into air conditioning. Start running a damp cloth over the skin, which cools the body as it evaporates. Alert people around you who can help. If your condition doesn’t improve or symptoms progress to vomiting or sleepiness, call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is much more serious than heat exhaustion, and you should call 911 immediately. Symptoms are similar to those for heat exhaustion, but can also include high body temperature, dry skin that is not sweating, rapid pulse, confusion or hallucinations and even seizures.
Question: What additional risks do elderly people or those who have weak immune systems face with extreme heat?
Answer: The elderly and the young have a harder time adjusting to excessive heat or cold. They may start to see symptoms of heat-related illness sooner than average adults. Parents need to be mindful of keeping kids hydrated (with water, not with caffeine or sugar drinks) during summer sports or play times. Kids often won’t take breaks to rest in the shade and drink water, so it’s up to parents to ensure these steps are taken. Our elderly will often sit in a home without air conditioning, because they don’t have it or can’t afford to pay for it. It’s up to us to check on our parents, grandparents and even our elderly neighbors to make sure they have some kind of relief like a fan from Project Cool. People taking medications also need to be mindful of reading warning labels or talking to their doctors or pharmacists about how those medications will make their bodies react to the heat.
Question: What are some of the common fire hazards and risks SAFD sees during the summer months?
Answer: With a lack of rain right now, we’re at a higher risk of grass fires. Other parts of Texas are already facing enormous wildfires, and we need to protect San Antonio as much as we can. Smokers need to be mindful of disposing of matches and cigarette butts properly. A burning cigarette thrown out a car window can start a fire in the dry grasses along our roads. And before you plan to barbeque, check the winds. Creating any type of open flame like a barbeque or campfire in high winds can cause a grass fire when embers or sparks get blown around. The same precautions need to be taken with fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday. All fireworks are illegal in the city, and residents need to be extra cautious since the dry weather looks to last all summer.
Question: Does the number of fires typically increase or decrease during the summer?
Answer: Home fires usually increase in the winter months when we begin using heating devices that have been unused for so many months. Once summer is over, it’s important to get central and portable heaters checked by a licensed professional before the cold winter hits us.
