How to protect your dog from the heat and hot weather in South Florida
The heat in South Florida can be too much for both humans and animals. Here are tips on how to protect your dog on hot days.
Palm Beach Post
The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a heat warning for all of South Florida that will last until 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 9, with temperatures expected to reach 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.7 degrees Celsius).
This is the fifth heat warning this month, which also includes Palm Beach County.
A heat warning is issued in Palm Beach County when temperatures of 108°F (42.3°C) or higher (heat index) are forecast for at least two hours.
The actual high temperature on Friday in West Palm Beach is expected to reach 92 degrees. The normal for this time of year is 90 degrees.
The NWS announced in June that Broward County would join Miami-Dade County in an experimental program where warnings begin at a lower threshold. In those two counties, a warning is issued when heat index temperatures of 105 or higher are expected for at least two hours. An extreme heat warning is issued when the heat index is expected to reach 110 or higher for at least two hours.
What is a heat warning?
A heat warning means that people who are sensitive to warm temperatures should take precautions to avoid heat illness, including staying hydrated and taking breaks when working or playing outside. Signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke include symptoms such as muscle cramps, excessive sweating, throbbing headaches, fainting, confusion and seizures.
An extreme heat warning, the highest warning level on a four-level scale, means everyone needs to take precautions to stay safe in the heat because “you could become seriously ill or even die,” the NWS says.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a location in the tropics
The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring a tropical wave west-southwest of the Lesser Antilles, which has a 50% probability of developing within the next seven days.
Slow development is expected through the weekend, but conditions will become more favorable in the region and a tropical depression may form as it approaches the Lesser Antilles early next week. After that, it is expected to move west-northwest and could reach Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and Cuba by the middle of next week.
Tips for your safety in extreme heat
American Red Cross safety tips for extremely hot weather:
∎ If you suspect a heat injury, call for help.
∎ Children and the elderly are among those most at risk.
∎ Try not to work outside during the hottest part of the day. If you must work in the heat, slow down.
∎ Take frequent breaks in the shade when outdoors.
∎ Drink plenty of water.
∎ If you wait until you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.
∎ Do not drink drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol (lemonade or beer). They disrupt the body’s temperature regulation mechanisms.
∎ Sweating is the body’s mechanism for cooling itself. If you stop sweating, call for help.
Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth is affecting the environment in South Florida. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to [email protected]. Support our local journalism and subscribe today.
