Tennessee Residents Search for Ways to Survive Heat, High Temperatures

The Middle Tennessee area has been hard hit recently by soaring temperatures and a drought created by a lack of precipitation in the area. The lack of water has created drastic water shortages; however, the soaring temperatures are beginning to take their toll as well. Last week, a local drywall hanger lost his life due to soaring temperatures in the house in which he worked. The young man's death has caused many in the community to take a long hard look at the way the excessive temperatures are affecting them and what they can do to combat the problem.

Many construction workers, drywall hangers and roofers have started beginning their days earlier and leaving earlier in an effort to avoid being outside working during the hottest part of the day. Others are taking off during the middle of the day when the temperatures are the highest and returning later in the afternoon to finish their day's work. Still others are continuing to work and just consuming extra fluids, using fans to mobilize the air in the areas where they are working, and opening doors and windows when possible to try and offset the heat.

Heat advisories for the area have included warnings to stay indoors under air conditioning until the weather subsides, and while this is the best advice it is not possible for many workers in the area, or even many families who do not have the luxury of an air conditioned home. For these people, the fact remains that they have to do the best that they can to make it through what has turned out to be one of the hottest summers in recent history.

One of the most important factors of surviving such tremendous heat is to keep the body hydrated. While water remains a wonderful source of hydration, many people are looking to sports drinks such as Gatorade to help them continue through the extreme temperatures. These popular sports drinks replenish the body's electrolyte supply, and this becomes a very important factor during cases of extreme heat or physical exertion. As electrolytes are lost through sweat and other factors, the bodies supply begins to become imbalanced, and this imbalance of electrolytes can affect your heart and cause illness or death.

While the extreme temperatures in the Middle Tennessee area are already beginning to claim lives, many residents are taking measures to combat the excessive heat and survive the soaring temperatures. It has become a necessary precaution for residents of this area to take precautions while they work or play. They are beginning to research and implement means of staying cool, and for the ones without air conditioning they are seeking out alternative methods to survive the heat.