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Ed Yeates Reporting If you don't have to go outside in the heat of the day, don't! That's the advice from physicians as high temperatures and ozone continues mixing a bad brew in our valleys.
In the shade, under a nice tree, at this hour, it's still hot. But it's not just the temperature that's part of this bad recipe.
The Health Department's Red Alert for ozone still makes for bad breathing. That applies to everybody, but most especially, high risk people.
That's why folks today were inside the Sandy Senior Center, which like its counterparts across the country is a "Cooling Station."
"I just stay in and turn on that swamp cooler and just keep a low profile."
"The doctor told me to stay inside and not to do nothing, just do what I'm doing now, playing cards."
For now, this becomes not only a center for activity, but a refuge from conditions, outside.
"Well, I have this sinus problem and have to stay inside."
Joy Hartmann, Director, Sandy Senior Center: "We would like to consider ourselves a cooling station. We have a lot of seniors who may not have relieable air conditioning at home."
Sports medicine docs say to use common sense.
Drink cool, nonalcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages. By the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. - Try to do things outside in the coolest part of the day.
- Seek shade.
- Use cold compresses to cool the skin.
- Wear clothes that are breathable and do not capture heat. University of Utah sports medicine doctor Amy Powell was one of the attending physicians at the Miller Sports Park race over the weekend. Amy Powell, M.D., University of Utah Sports Medicine: "There were a lot of very overheated drivers. The race track was very hot. I think the track temperature at race time was 126 degrees, something like that. And so the drivers were very dehydrated coming off the course." Since dusk right now is almost as warm as some parts of the mid afternoon, Dr. Powell says if you must run or exercise outside, do it in the early morning.
