Heat Advisory Issued Before Official Start of Summer
CIBOLA COUNTY – As temperatures soar across New Mexico, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) is urging residents to take necessary precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses. This advisory comes as temperatures reached 105°F and higher in the southern parts of the state, and reached 100°F in Albuquerque and Farmington last Thursday.
“We continue to see an increase in heat illnesses in New Mexico. Since April 1, there have been at least 224 heat-related visits to emergency departments around New Mexico,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, Chief Medical Officer for NMHealth. “Protect yourself and others when it’s hot outside by staying cool, staying hydrated, and knowing the symptoms.”
NMHealth listed out several heat-related side effects, and wrote these can be severe and include symptoms such as:
• Cold, pale, and clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Tirednessorweakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fainting(passingout)
• Heavy sweating To protect yourself and others, especially those at high risk such as outdoor workers, young children and infants, adults over 65 years old, and people with existing chronic health conditions or without access to air conditioning, NMHealth recommends the following precautions:
• Stay cool inside and/or in shade where possible.
• Keep window shades drawn during the day to help keep the heat out.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. (Just as water hydrates you, alcohol dehydrates you.)
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
• Schedule outdoor activities for cooler times of the day.
• Pace yourself.
• Never leave children or pets in the car.
• Have a plan to get somewhere with air conditioning, such as a library or friend’s house, especially for older adults and people with medical needs.
• Help people who have limited capacity to understand how to avoid heat-related illness.
For more information, visit NM-Tracking – Heat-Related Illness and check the recently released heat-related illness dashboard to get current information on heat-related emergency department visits. To track your heat risk, the National Weather Service (NWS) HeatRisk map and the NWS/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HeatRisk tool also provide forecasts of heat-related impacts.
Stay safe and stay cool, Cibola County.