Heat Precautions

It's starting to feel more like July. You may remember last year Oklahoma set a record for heat related deaths, and no one wants a repeat this summer. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports on avoiding

Sunday, July 15th 2007, 3:21 pm

By: News On 6

It's starting to feel more like July. You may remember last year Oklahoma set a record for heat related deaths, and no one wants a repeat this summer. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports on avoiding heat stroke.

Most days if Paul Warne isn't on the golf course, heâ€™s in the garden. Warne says he's used to the heat, but one day the heat got the better of him.

"I just got stars in front of my eyes. Just blurry and felt faint,â€ Owasso resident Paul Warne said.

Warne tilled part of his garden and a flower bed in the morning. By noon he went to a friend's house to help build a garage. Warne believes he was getting heat exhaustion and got into the air conditioning and hydrated just in time.

"I think every summer there are several die from heat stroke, and I think I came pretty close to it, not dying, but having a heat stroke maybe," said Warne.

Last year in Oklahoma, there were a record number of heat deaths across the state. At least 25 people died during the sweltering heat wave last summer. Paul Warne believes he is very lucky. He'll continue to be very active, but he'll also be careful. He hopes others are too.

"That blacking out kind of scares you," he said.

Heat victims might feel faint, and have nausea or a rapid heartbeat. Problems can quickly deteriorate into a heat stroke, which is the most severe form of heat illness and can kill.

Watch the video: Summer Heat Dangers

For more on heat related illnesses, including symptoms, prevention and what to do when someone has heat exhaustion or heat stroke, click here.