Take precautions due to excessive heat
Summertime is definitely here with temperatures expected to exceed the century mark for three consecutive days beginning Friday. Officials urge people to use extreme caution when outdoors and to make sure animals are well tended.
“Drink, drink, drink,” said Dr. Clarence “Butch” Coker with Palmetto Primary Care. “You need to stay hydrated. Stay out of the heat. Stay indoors.”
Coker said the first signs of a heat stroke include weakness, confusion and dizziness when standing. Seek immediate medical attention.
Coker said that although younger adults are better able to handle the heat, everyone especially the elderly should use caution during extreme heat conditions.
If you must venture outdoors during the excessively hot days, drink plenty of fluids, wear a hat, wear lightweight and light-colored clothing and limit your time outdoors to the coolest part of the day.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, “pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.”
Never leave an animal in a parked vehicle.
“On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time, even with the windows open, which could lead to a heat stroke,” said Dr. Louise Murray, vice president of ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.
On Wednesday, Anthony Mack, director of Clarendon County Emergency Management, encouraged individuals to stay inside or stay in the shade during the extremely hot days. Mack said he did not anticipate opening any shelters because of the excessive heat.
Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett said that his office would assist during the heat wave in doing welfare checks on elderly family members who live alone.
“I know we have a lot of elderly parents whose children live out of town or out of state,” Garrett said. “We will be more than happy to do welfare checks on their parents if they don’t have any family members living in the area.”
To request a welfare check, Garrett said family members should call the CCSO at (803) 435-4414, or after hours, they should call Clarendon County Communications at (803) 435-8877.
While this weekend’s temperatures are expected to be hotter than in recent summers, the highest recorded temperature in Manning was in 1983, when thermometers climbed to 108 degrees, according to the South Carolina State Climatology Office.
The highest recorded temperature in the state was 111 degrees. That triple digit number occurred on three occasions: in Camden on June 24, 1954, and in Blackville and Calhoun Falls on Sept. 4 and 8, 1925, respectively.
