Preventing heat-related emergencies as temperatures soar
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- During the summer months, the heat can be downright dangerous. Some of the most vulnerable this time of year are children and the elderly.
At summer camps across the Triangle, camp leaders are finding ways to keep the kids cool and safe.
The Alexander Family YMCA in Raleigh hosts about 250 campers every day during the summer. Camp counselors provide water breaks for the kids before and after every activity. The campers are also encouraged to bring their own water bottle to refill throughout the day at the facility's many water stations.
YMCA leaders tell ABC11 their counselors are trained to prevent heat emergencies. They look for kids who are sweating but not drinking water, as well as any signs of changing complexion.
"We plan starting really early in the year for camp and we know being in North Carolina that we're gonna have hot days," said Kim Moser, Assoc. Branch Dir. Alexander Family YMCA. "So we plan lots of water activities, inside, outside we make sure that the kids are in the shade and we have water everywhere for them. We have a lot of kids here and they wanna play hard and have fun and we wanna make sure they're hydrated and cool while they're doing it."
North Carolina Public Health tracks the number of heat-related emergency room visits; they fall right in line with the maximum heat index. Records show there was a spike in E.R. visits across North Carolina during a hot week in mid-June, and most recently over the 4th of July holiday. In both cases, the heat index was over 100, just like were seeing now in mid-July.
