WILMINGTON – For the second time this summer, the National Weather Service in Wilmington has placed the entire state of Ohio, as well as much as much of Midwest and the better part of the Mississippi Valley, under a heat warning Wednesday, Sept. 2, through Thursday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m.

The heat index, which is a combination of air temperature and relative humidity, is expected to climb locally into the dangerously high 100º to 105º F range Wednesday and Thursday. 

As a precaution, Bellefontaine City Schools is releasing students two hours early Wednesday (also the district’s first day of classes) because of the heat advisory.

The district also is following OHSAA guidelines for afterschool activities.

The orange areas in the map accompanying this article show many of the areas of the country under the heat warning. The purple region near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers show areas under extreme heat warnings, with air temperatures alone in these regions expecting to reach well into the triple digits.

The NWS and the Logan County Chronicle reminds readers that extreme heat kills more Americans each year than do cold temperatures, hurricanes, tornados and lighting combined. Please act accordingly.

Common sense is your best friend when Mother Nature turns up the broilers. Stay inside in air conditioning, if possible (electric fans are also very effective), keep any outside activities to an absolute minimum, wear light, loose fitting clothing if you must be outside and stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol – it suppresses the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) which regulates your bodily fluids. Be a good neighbor and check up on your elderly neighbors. 

Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke 

Know the signs and symptoms of heat-released illnesses. Remember that heat stroke is an emergency medical situation and should you suspect heat stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Also remember that heat exhaustion can quickly advance to heat stroke, so know the signs and symptoms of both and use your sense. Don’t become a statistic.  

Heat Exhaustion Signs and Symptoms:

High body temperature

Rapid breathing and heart rate

Muscle cramps

Headache

Dizziness/lightheadedness

Pale skin

Nausea/vomiting

Weakness/fatigue

Heat Stroke, Sign and Symptoms:

Confusion/agitation/altered mental state

Inability to sweat

Dry, red skin

Weak, rapid pulse

Seizures 

Extreme dizziness or fainting

Nausea/vomiting

Extremely high body temperature (104 degrees or above) ■