Ready for the hottest day of the year so far?
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PORTLAND, Ore. - It's about to get pretty hot in our neck of the woods - the hottest it's been all year.
The forecast high Saturday in Eugene is 99 F.
A lot of folks will likely head outdoors to enjoy the sunshine without knowing they are in peril: heat kills more Americans every year than earthquakes, lightning, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here are some tips for staying healthy in the heat:
Drink Enough Water
Avoid overheating. Dehydration is classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on how much of the body's fluid is lost or not replenished. Stay hydrated.
Our bodies are comprised of 70% fluid and without maintaining regular water intake, we can get into serious trouble. Our bodies need more than the normal 8 cups of water a day when it's hot outside. Increase water intake even more if you are working, exercising or playing when it's hot out.
When severe, dehydration can lead to a life-threatening emergency also known as heat stroke. Heat emergencies fall into three categories of increasing severity: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, a life-threatening condition.
Heat illnesses are easily preventable by taking precautions in hot weather.
Children, elderly, and obese people have a higher risk of developing heat illness. People taking certain medications or drinking alcohol also have a higher risk. However, even a top athlete in superb condition can succumb to heat illness if he or she ignores the warning signs.
If the problem isn't addressed, heat cramps (caused by loss of salt from heavy sweating) can lead to heat exhaustion (caused by dehydration), which can progress to heatstroke. Heatstroke, the most serious of the three, can cause shock, brain damage, organ failure, and even death.
Heat stroke can be a life-threatening condition.
Skin Protection
Too much sun can hurt! Protect the skin from the direct sun by wearing large brim hats, long sleeve/ long pants - lightweight clothing and use sunscreen. Another great option is to seek shade under a tree in one of our many great parks.
Food Poisoning Prevention
Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. When hot foods cool & cold foods get lukewarm, bacteria thrive. This is especially challenging in the heat of summer as food tend to migrate towards the DANGER zone where bacteria can grow very quickly in the exposed food, especially foods with mayonnaise, milk, eggs and meat.
I guess I can't really complain since it was 112 a few days ago where I moved from, but still, I didn't move here for 90+ degree temperatures. =/ I can't wait for the rain to come back...
@PleaseBeSmart I have lived on Oregon my entire 70 years, and one thing I know for sure if you don't like the weather, just stick around because it is going to change. I have also been all over the world and never seen a better place for all around climate.
 @souptonuts  @PleaseBeSmart Oh I agree wholeheartedly. The climate here is much better than any place I know about. My only gripes are days that get into the 90s and I wish there were more snow days. Really though, I don't ever plan to leave the West side of Oregon and the climate has a lot to do with that. I love, love, love the rain.