Dangerous triple-digit heat has summer camps, sports teams changing plans

A heat index in the triple digits means people have to be extra cautious while outdoors this week.

With school out and summer camps are kicking into high gear this week, it's especially important to protect kids. The Town of Garner's summer camp will host nearly 100 kids on Tuesday, expected to be the hottest day of the year so far with a record high of 100 degrees and a heat index up to 115 degrees.

Due to the heat, camp leaders have planned for a day mainly indoors.

Sara Shaw, who runs the camp, said counselors will limit time outdoors to the morning hours, with only 15 minutes. The camp also has several indoor ideas to keep kids busy, including activities in gyms and a movie day planned at a local theater.

Shaw said the weather is not unusual, but normally kids get a few weeks of summer camp in before excessive heat warnings. In fact, the last heat warning in the Triangle was July 20, 2019.

Parents have also been encouraged to send their kids to camp with loose-fitting, cool clothing and to apply sunscreen in advance.

Tuesday's weather will be even hotter than it was on Monday, when Jamika Johnson took her children to a splash pad in downtown Raleigh.

"It's ridiculous — 90 degrees at 10 a.m.," she said.

Health experts said it's important to remember how dangerous the heat can be for small children and the elderly.

Those planning on spending time outdoors should be applying sunscreen and staying hydrated, with regular water breaks. People who have to be outside for work should take breaks from the sun, dress in loose-fitting clothing and limit sugary drinks.

The most dangerous time to be outside is after lunch, especially between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

"Usually the hottest days are the worst ones," said Allie Corbett, who works for J&L Professional Services, a pressure washing company based in Raleigh.

"It can be rough ... I don’t want to have a heat stroke but I have to be outside for my job," said Corbett.

Baseball in the heat

Children and parents battled the heat on the ball field Monday, doing all they could to stay safe and hydrated in a championship baseball game in Raleigh between the Yankees and the Angels.

The two teams swung it out under the sun while surrounded by the oppressive heat.

Playing baseball in these temperatures is difficult, but the players had some advantages including trees providing extra shade.

The matchup started at 6:30 p.m. and after several innings, the temperature held steady at 93 degrees.

Spectators, moms and dads turned nearby trees into shaded dugouts.

Some in the crowd had coolers, water bottles and came dressed for the elements.

“I made sure to bring my fan. I have watermelon for the kid," said one attendee Andrea Hook. "I wore white colors. That is as good as it is going to get.”

One dad also took extra precautions, he started the hydration process early.

“We are drinking plenty of fluids. Lots of Gatorade, lots of water," said the dad. "We started the hydrating process a couple of days ago.”

Doctors recommend not playing outdoors between 10 -2 p.m. That’s when it is usually the hottest.

People are also encouraged to avoid exercising, working or being outside for fun during the hottest part of the day.

Be mindful of heat illnesses

Health experts say people should be mindful that heat-related illness can come on fast.

According to Wake County EMS, local hospitals saw over 3,100 heat-related emergency department visits last summer.

Dr. Ryan Lamb, who works in the emergency department at UNC Rex, said hospital staff is preparing for an influx of patients due to the extreme temperatures.

"We would expect that this week we will see people with heat-related illnesses in the ER, see and hear about related injuries ... and those on the extreme end that come in with heat stroke symptoms," said Lamb.

According to the Mayo Clinic, heat stroke can quickly damage someone's brain, heart, kidney and muscles. Symptoms of heat stroke include high body temperature, altered mental status like confusion, flushed skin and rapid breathing.

"Next thing you know, someone's temperature is more than [104 degrees.] They are confused ... that happens particularly in elderly or young," said Lamb. "We see it there most often. It's life threatening — 10 to 15 percent of those people will die."