Just How Deadly is This Heat?

The black line above that stops in the middle of this heat chart is NOW!

Experts say that with today's heat we will definitey have the hottest July ever.....hotter than the earth has experienced in 120,000 years., There are many reasons for it, including our addiction to carbon producing mechanisms and world population growth. But one reason that is not as readily acknowledged is the growth of cities resulting from the -ever increasing population rise. And the problem is circular. As crops suffer from climate change, people are forced to move, to move where jobs and shelter are available. And do you know what all of these concrete buildings and roads do as a result of this population increase? They rtain heat.in what ar being alled ou0r "Urban Heat Islands". In essence, we may be building our own demise.'' Certainly more densely populated affordable housing is not a good longterm societal solution to prosperity in urban areas and leaders are going to need to look again at new solutions to population growth that do NOT add to the developing crisis, a crisis that is heading to even more "hottest ever" days as the Arctic Ice melts and the oceans warm, (creating yet another layer of emergeny when those warm oceans develop increasingly severe storms

And we are beatig those records by a LOT. According to CNN, "Typically these records, which track the average air temperature across the entire world, are broken by hundredths of a degree. But the temperature for the first 23 days of July averaged 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 Fahrenheit), well above the previous record of 16.63 degrees Celsius (61.93 Fahrenheit) set in July 2019, according to the report i

"The data used to track these records goes back to 1940, but many scientists – including those at Copernicus – say it’s almost certain that these temperatures are the warmest the planet has seen in 120,000 years, given what we know from millennia of climate data extracted from tree rings, coral reefs and deep sea sediment cores. “These are the hottest temperatures in human history,” said Samantha Burgess, deputy director at Copernicus."

JUST HOW DANGEROUS IS THIS HEAT?

Actual numbers of deaths resulting from excessiv heat are difficult to categorize because agencies record deaths differently. Most heat related deaths are in stroke, heart attack COPD and pneumonia related cases, resulting in a falsely low total count Unfortunately we do know that while the United States has one of the lowest totals, it also has one of the highest carbon emission rates causing the problem as it relates to climate change. In all, though, scientists estimatethat there are at least 20,000 heat related deaths a year in the YS. BUt the number of people ending up with compromised health due to stroke, heart attack and COPD is likely 3 or 4 times that number.

ANNUAL DEATHS DUE TO HIGH TEMPS BY REGION

• Africa – 25,550

• Asia – 224,000

• Europe – 178,700

• South America – 25,250

• UK – 8000

• US – 18,750

• China – 71,300

• India – 83,700

• Australia – 2300

Precautions Recommended for Those at Special Risk

In extreme heat such as this (while temperaturesare expected to be in the low 90's, the "Feels Like" temperature is at least 99 degrees. Therefore, common sense says WE ARE ALL AT RISK!

1. Listen to your body.....don't try to be "tough". Other than cool water activitis (and watch your sun exposure time), stay indoors from late morning to 4 or 6 pm..During that time have air conditioning or at least a high velocity fan on.

2. Follow the work schedules used in the Southern Hemishpere .....heavy and any lengthy outdoor work is done in the late afternoon and early evening.

3. Stay well hydrated.....Drink lots of cool water, iced tea and fruit juice, preferably with low sugar content. Popsicles offer another way to cool down.

4. If you ask your mom or grandmother what they did when it was unbearably hot when they were younger and there was no air conditioning and they will tell you the simplest solution, "Take a cool shower or sit in a cool tub for awhile.

5. IF THE HEAT AT YOUR HOME REMAINS UNBEARABLE AND YOU HAVE NO AIR CONDITIONING DRIVE OR GET A RIDE TO A COOLING CENTER.

What is the logical and most simple solution to safety at home during extreme weather? Create a "Safe Room"......a relatively small space where you can get projects on the computer, or sewing, or whatever, done with a safe room heater and air conditioner that will get the job done without breaking the bank.

CHECK ON THE ELDERLY AND ANYONE WHO HAS SPECIAL HEALTH RISKS

DEATH, HEART ATTACK OR STROKE FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT IS AVOIDABLE