How to avoid and prepare for heat exhaustion

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SALT LAKE CITY — The heat is on in Utah.

KSL TV Meteorologist Kevin Eubank joined KSL NewsRadio’s Dave and Dujanovic Thursday morning to discuss how to prepare for the summer months and avoid heat exhaustion.

“It gets hot every year, it gets hot every summer, it gets hot every year in the month of June, and July is really hot and August stays hot, ” said Eubank. “It is a little warmer than normal. In fact, we hit 102 [degrees Fahrenheit] over the weekend, broke a record, and we’re going to 101 [degrees Fahrenheit] here tomorrow.”

Eubank said this is not the first time Utah has seen such high temperatures.

“To give you perspective, last year at this time, we were in a streak of three days of 100 degrees plus and one of them was 107 which tied the hottest temperature ever recorded in Salt Lake history. So we do this,” Eubank said.

Heat exhaustion

With the state facing high summer temperatures, Eubank gave advice on things such as avoiding heat exhaustion.

“No matter whether it’s normal or not, the heat is still impactful and it gets everybody,” Eubank said. “There’s animals that are suffering from the heat… and then there’s the humans that are out there having to work in it, or play in it or do whatever, and so the biggest thing is hydration,” Eubank said.

He advises that people make sure they stay hydrated and have areas where they can go to cool off.

“You can’t just be out in the sun all the time, [because] that’s where the heat exhaustion happens,” Eubank said. “You’ve got to be able to get in and cool off, get hydrated, then you can go back out.”

Additionally, Eubank said it is important for people to be aware of the amount of water they are taking in. 

“A lot of people do not drink enough [water],” he said.

Eubank warned not to get tricked by soda. He said certain drinks, like soda, will actually dehydrate those who drink them and makes things worse.

Protecting pets 

“Have you guys ever drank a cup of water you thought was cold and it was warm,” Eubank said. “That’s what happens with our pets.”

Eubank said not to forget about pets. It is important to change pets’ water and bring them inside out of the heat.

To find out more about avoiding heat exhaustion, click here.

For more information or tips, visit the Be Ready Utah website.

Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. 

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