HEAT being blamed for another death

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Another person suffered a heat-related death as triple-digit heat dug in its heels across the state. <br><br>Nearly 3 inches of rain was reported in north-central and southeastern

Tuesday, July 31st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Another person suffered a heat-related death as triple-digit heat dug in its heels across the state.

Nearly 3 inches of rain was reported in north-central and southeastern Oklahoma over the weekend, with Vanoss reporting 2.9 inches of rain and Chandler recording 2.75 inches, forecasters said. Precipitation chances will be slim to none this week.

On Monday, daytime highs ranged from 93 degrees in Mount Herman in southeastern Oklahoma to 108 degrees in Alva and Cherokee. Oklahoma City reached 101 degrees, while the temperature in Tulsa soared to 104 degrees.

The National Weather Service has extended a heat advisory through Wednesday and is urging people to check on the elderly and drink plenty of water.

The excessive heat is being blamed for the death of an Oklahoma City man on Saturday at St. Anthony Hospital.

Kevin Rowland of the state medical examiner's office said the 49-year-old man was taken to the hospital with a 108-degree temperature and other heat-related symptoms, including dehydration. The man did not have air conditioning in his residence.

The man's name was not released.

As many as eight people, mostly elderly, have suffered heat-related deaths in Oklahoma this year.