Summer Safety

JACKSON,TN (WNBJ)-

Hot weather is something west Tennessee is used to seeing, but it is important to know the dangers of it.

Chief Medical Officer Tim Jones discusses how dangerous the heat and sun can be, “I think a lot of times people don’t think about how dangerous heat-related illness can actually be, some of the more serious conditions include one that’s called heat exhaustion when folks get sort of red and clammy, very you know week, sometimes lightheaded…a much more serious state is something called heat stroke. People actually start to get very red and can actually get dry skin, actually stop sweating, loss of consciousness, very confused and that’s a true medical emergency.”

Barbara Clenney works in her yard every day and is used to the heat, but she says that the heat this summer is really getting to her, “I have never been one to sweat in my life. This summer I get out in the yard and the sweat just pours off of me. I have to go in and change clothes, I’m dripping wet when I get through working in my flower beds every day…I can handle it and I’m gonna continue to work outside, I don’t care how hot it gets it's not going to get the best of me.”

There are many ways to protect yourself from the heat:

*The most important way to protect yourself is to stay hydrated with water

*Try and plan your day so that you can stay inside during the hottest times of the day

*Take frequent breaks inside

*Wear sunscreen, light clothes and a hat if you are outside for long periods of time