LAURINBURG — It’s going to be scorching over the next few days.
The National Weather Service in Raleigh issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Scotland County that begins today and runs through Sunday. Temperatures will hover in the upper 90s and the heat index will soar to almost 110 degrees.
With the extreme heat, health officials at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are urging the public to take extra precautions against heat-related illnesses as daytime temperatures are predicted to be in the mid-to upper-90s the rest of the week.
The North Carolina Heat Report, published weekly by NC Public Health, found that 124 of the 1,126 people in the state treated for a heat-related illness from May 1 to July 8 were seen at hospitals in the Sandhills region.
The Sandhills includes Scotland, Richmond, Robeson, Bladen, Cumberland, Moore, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery and Harnett counties.
The most common reasons given when visiting the ER were landscaping, construction work and roofing. Also working in a building without air conditioning. People are encouraged to find an air-conditioned shelter during the middle of the day, avoid direct sunlight, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and take cool showers or baths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control people with poor circulation, heart disease, mental illness and obesity are at an increased risk of developing a heat-related illness.
Heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion or heat stroke, happen when the body is not able to properly cool itself. While the body normally cools itself by sweating, during extreme heat, this might not be enough. In these cases, a person’s body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down. This can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs.
Cooling centers
Scotland County has two designated cooling centers where people can seek refuge from the oppressive summer sun — Wagram Recreation Center and Scotland County Memorial Library.
Kisha Williams, Wagram recreation supervisor, said anyone who is able to get to the center and is self sufficient is welcome to stay as long as they want. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesdays-Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
Children are welcome as well, but must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Water and ice are also available.
People have already been piling into the library in an effort to beat the heat, according to Ann Locklear, assistant to the director.
“We have people in here every day just for that reason,” said Locklear. “We always have been in the past and I don’t see us changing that. People are more than welcome to come in and cool down.”
The library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Scotland County Memorial Library and the Wagram Recreation Center are both closed on Sundays.
The Splash Pad, operated by Scotland County Parks and Recreation, provides some relief for younger children. The Splash Pad, 1206 Turnpike Road in Laurinburg is open Monday through Saturday 12 to 6 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 3 p.m. Admission to the water park is $2 for children 12 and under.
The following are different types of heat-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The table includes what to look for is you believe someone has been affected by the heat and what to do.
Heat-related illness
What to look for in terms of heat-related illnesses:
— High body temperature (103°F or higher)
— Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
— Fast, strong pulse
— Headache
— Feeling dizzy
— Muscle cramps
— Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples
— Nausea
— Feeling confused
— Losing consciousness
Health officials said if you have any of these symptoms, you should call 911 right away because a heat stroke is a medical emergency. You may also want to move to a cooler place. Officials also caution against consuming anything to drink.
You should get medical help right away if you are throwing up or symptoms last longer than 1 hour.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.