WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Residents across Central Wisconsin will be dealing with some extreme heat this week, though not extreme enough for a heat advisory from the National Weather Service as of Wednesday evening.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions according to Environmental Health Resource Coordinator Dale Grosskurth with the Marathon County Health Department. “It is quite warm out there, the humidity has gotten up there so there are precautions that everyone should be taking.”
Those include staying hydrated by drinking up to a quart (32 ounces) of water per hour during outdoor activity or work and taking frequent breaks in an air-conditioned environment. He says you should also pay attention to the signs of heat stroke such as feeling lightheaded, nauseous, dazed, or feeling overwhelmed by the heat.
Grosskurth says that the Health Department is working with the United Way’s 211 service to connect residents to cooling centers. He says those in need should call 211 from any cell phone or landline, then the operator can connect them to a local cooling center including the nearest Public Library branch.
He says it’s also important to remember that the young and elderly are more susceptible to heat. “They don’t regulate heat as well as they should. “Check in on your neighbor and keep an eye on the kids to make sure they are drinking water when they are outside.”
Additional tips on staying safe in the heat can be found through the Department of Health Services by clicking here.
Areas that are under a heat advisory from the NWS include Clark, Adams, Juneau, Jackson, and Monroe Counties- which are covered by the La Crosse forecasting office. A statement from the Green Bay office- which serves Marathon, Portage, Wood, Lincoln, and Shawano Counties- says that heat index values could “approach 100 degrees” and calls for residents to be prepared for very warm and humid conditions.
