THE Heat

THE Heat                                                                    September 14, 2014

     Please everyone, all my friends especially, watch out for that heat out there.  I found myself drooping and not knowing why; I was feeling low and depressed, wondered if I was getting sick.  Was I coming down with something terrible?  Then I went outside to empty the trash.  I figured it out.  It is oppressive and therefore depressing.  The air even smells bad, hard to take a deep breath.
     As a kid we summered near the beach where it was never really hot.  For us temperatures
in the eighties were unbearable, we usually enjoyed the low seventies most of the summer. When it hit the high seventies or low eighties, my parents would call us kids from our beds because it was cooler outdoors and we were complaining loudly  about our discomfort.  As I curled up in Dad's lap, on the front porch, he would put his fingers to his lips to shush us, "Look", he said, "There is not a leaf moving, see how still the trees are?"  To this day I watch the leaves on a hot day and invariably repeat Dad's words.
     In later years while I was at college, on the opposite side of that coin, when temperatures fell below freezing, the Dean of Women would get on the loud speakers and say, "Young women, today is bitter cold out there, you may wear trousers!"  I wonder if today, the Dean gets on the speaker and allows, "Today because of the extreme heat, ladies pull up those short shorts."
     When I grew up and went to work I remember that our office closed when the temperature went above 90 degrees.  We were permitted to go home at lunchtime.  For some of us that was a dilemma.  There was work to be done, appointments to be cancelled, but most of the time we enjoyed getting home early enough to go to the beach for a swim; it was always cooler. In this heat at this time, I have not heard of any offices closing when the temperature hit 90. Everything in San Diego would be shut down.
     Those folks who are on the energy saver program with SDG&E, please be aware that your a/c will not be working at the top of the days heat.  The last time I inquired they said that they did not turn it back on until 6:45 pm.  That can make for a long very hot afternoon/evening.  I cancelled the program for myself.
     Most important is to drink extra fluid during this period. I understand that our blood system is busy keeping us hot, flushed faces and raised body temperature, so it needs the extra fluid. I beg those who are my peers and younger, not to exercise outside during the day. Take that walk very early in the morning or evening. The assault of the extra high heat requires changes in our routines or habits and unfortunately we are not always prepared to make changes and are often unwilling to do so.
     Those who feel faint, nauseated, dizzy and/or are suffering from a headache, rapid pulse or fast breathing, should seek medical help.  Of course if someone's body temperature goes to 103, call the doctor.  By the way, anyone taking a diuretic should ask the doctor how much fluid to take daily.  The water pills make a difference. Appropriate beverages do not include alcohol.  Stay cool, friends, play indoors as much as possible.