Valley facing extreme summer heat

Wednesday, July 21, 2004 | 9:30 a.m.

The thermometer hit 109 degrees, tying the hottest day of the year so far on July 13. The average temperature for July 20 is 104 degrees, the weather service said.

Forecasters are predicting a high of 109 degrees today and as much as 111 degrees Thursday, as the scorching weather follows a trend started last month.

The National Climatic Data Center said that Nevada and Florida had higher-than-normal temperatures in June. The center also said that the warm summer temperatures indicate that the five-year drought will persist or intensify.

Extreme heat is particularly dangerous for the young and the old, said Celeste Longbucco, director of business for Physicians Choice Home Health Care of Henderson.

The home health agency has spent this summer providing tips to assisted living residents, Longbucco said.

Those tips include:

With either heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which is a medical emergency, the most important thing to remember is placing the victim in a cool place indoors or in the shade if outdoors to lower body temperatures, which can sometimes jump above 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Before emergency crews arrive, the person can be wrapped in a cold, wet sheet or sponged down with towels or sheets soaked in cold water. Even spraying a person with cool water can help.

If indoors, direct a fan on the person, keeping the victim far enough away from the fan to prevent electrical shock.