Excessive Heat Warning In Effect For Tulsa; Cooling Stations Opened

NewsOn6.com 

UNDATED -- The National Weather Service in Tulsa has issued an excessive heat warning. The excessive heat warning is in effect until 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The excessive heat warning is in effect for the following Oklahoma counties: Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Wagoner, Tulsa, Rogers, Washington, Osage, Nowata, Pawnee, McIntosh and Muskogee.

In Arkansas: Crawford, Sebastian and Franklin counties.

The Tulsa Heat Coalition has opened two cooling stations and is advising area residents to take precautions to protect their health against heat-related illnesses that may cause heat stroke or death. 

"Whenever our Oklahoma weather with the humidity gets up and extremely uncomfortable we open our cooling station which allows anybody anytime during the day or night to come in and cool off," said Arletta robinson, Center Of Hope. "We also make sure we have plenty of ice water because our folks need to stay hydrated."

The two cooling stations open to the public include: 

• Tulsa County Social Services

2401 Charles Page Boulevard, Tulsa, OK

Operational Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. 7 days a week

•  Salvation Army Center of Hope

102 N. Denver Avenue, Tulsa, OK

Operational Hours: open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Afternoon temperatures are expected to be in the mid to upper 90s and combined with very high humidity. This will result in dangerous heat index values at about 105 degrees over the next several days.

Little relief is expected at night with temperatures only falling into the mid to upper 70s.

"Extended periods of hot and humid weather is actually a greater health hazard than storms, as more fatalities are attributed to heat than any other weather related cause," said News On 6 Meteorologist Dick Faurot.

Read the complete weather discussion.

EMSA paramedics have treated and transported 24 heat related patients in the metro since 7:00 Friday morning.

"The most important thing if you have to be out in the heat, in the sun, is to drink a lot of water. Stay away from the sodas and things like that, just plain old fashioned water is the best," said Jason Whitlow, EMSA.

EMSA advises individuals to wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned buildings and out of the sun and to check on relatives and neighbors. It is also advised to take plenty of breaks if you are working outdoors. Do not leave children or pets in the car unattended.

"When you stop sweating when you're out in the heat, now you've gone way too far. You're very dehydrated at this point and you're on the verge of a heat emergency," Whitlow said.

6/18/2010  Related Story: Deadly Dangers Of Oklahoma's Summer Heat

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• being dizzy, tired or weak
• fainting spells
• getting flushed
• heavy sweating
• fast heartbeat

Paramedics recommend calling 911 if these systems persist for about an hour after someone moves into a cool place.