ALERT NEWSLETTER – August 2016

Hi everyone,

Do you know of anyone interested in becoming a ham? If so, there is a great opportunity for them.

On August 13, ARES and the Amateur Radio Advancement group ARA will conduct a “Ham Cram” for the Technician License.

A Ham Cram is a single day class that teaches everything needed to earn an FCC radio amateur license, followed by a testing session.

This class will take place at the 2020 building on University Ave or 8th Ave South, beginning at 8:00 AM. The cost is $15 (donations for the groups time and transportation will be welcome also).

Seating is limited to 35 people so please call Jefferson County EC, Johnnie Knobloch at 205-934-7392 to reserve a spot.

Incidentally, food will not be provided, so bring your own lunch.

Once they are licensed, remembering how it was when YOU first got your license, when YOU had to deal with snarky, whiney, nitpicking know it all old goats, be sure YOU welcome them warmly, YOU include them and YOU gently mentor them as the good Elmer that YOU ARE should do.

Says old goat WD4NYL, Pollutant Of The Airwaves since 1977…

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HEAT & Its Dangers

Heat and heat related illnesses are not something to be shrugged off. About 237 Americans die each year due to heat related illnesses.

In arid regions such as the desert southwest, the heat lacks humidity, and though it will be blazing hot, the evaporation helps the body combat the heat, as evaporating sweat helps cool to body down.
A “dry heat” is not as uncomfortable as the “humid heat” which we endure.

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, climatologically our summer conditions are similar to that of those experienced in the Amazon Valley, with the same heat, humidity, tropical downpours and mosquitoes that can carry small dogs away.

In our semitropical climate, humidity from the Gulf works against our bodies cooling mechanisms – internal blood circulation adjustments, sweating and evaporation, not allowing the body to combat the heat, and we are in placed in a seriously dangerous situation.

Though you are rapidly losing your body’s water reserves, up to 1.5 liters or 1.6 quarts per hour through sweating, the sweat cannot evaporate fast enough to dissipate the heat in the high humidity.

We are familiar with the term “heat index”. This index was developed to help identify the danger zone, and express how the combined temperature and humidity “feels” or affects the human body.

The Shaded Heat Index can be determined using this chart.

I picked this version because it uses the Dewpoint. Some charts use Relative Humidity, which is fine, except the humidity is constantly varying with temperature fluctuations, while the Dewpoint usually remains fairly steady.

Heat Index Chart (Temperature & Dewpoint)
Dewpoint
(° F) Temperature (° F)
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105
65 94 95 96 97 98 100 101 102 103 104 106 107 108 109 110 112
66 94 95 97 98 99 100 101 103 104 105 106 108 109 110 111 112
67 95 96 97 98 100 101 102 103 105 106 107 108 110 111 112 113
68 95 97 98 99 100 102 103 104 105 107 108 109 110 112 113 114
69 96 97 99 100 101 103 104 105 106 108 109 110 111 113 114 115
70 97 98 99 101 102 103 105 106 107 109 110 111 112 114 115 116
71 98 99 100 102 103 104 106 107 108 109 111 112 113 115 116 117
72 98 100 101 103 104 105 107 108 109 111 112 113 114 116 117 118
73 99 101 102 103 105 106 108 109 110 112 113 114 116 117 118 119
74 100 102 103 104 106 107 109 110 111 113 114 115 117 118 119 121
75 101 103 104 106 107 108 110 111 113 114 115 117 118 119 121 122
76 102 104 105 107 108 110 111 112 114 115 117 118 119 121 122 123
77 103 105 106 108 109 111 112 114 115 117 118 119 121 122 124 125
78 105 106 108 109 111 112 114 115 117 118 119 121 122 124 125 126
79 106 107 109 111 112 114 115 117 118 120 121 122 124 125 127 128
80 107 109 110 112 114 115 117 118 120 121 123 124 126 127 128 130
81 109 110 112 114 115 117 118 120 121 123 124 126 127 129 130 132
82 110 112 114 115 117 118 120 122 123 125 126 128 129 131 132 133
Note: Exposure to full sunshine can increase HI values by up to 15° F

HEAT INDEX EFFECTS
80 to 90 degrees – Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
90 to 105 degrees – Sunstroke, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion are possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
105 to 130 degrees – Sunstroke, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion are likely, and heatstroke is possible, with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
130 degrees and higher – Heatstroke or sunstroke are highly likely with continued exposure.

I hope you noticed the line stating that if you are in full sunlight the heat index can be up to 15 degrees higher than the indicated values.

Be exceedingly careful with your exposure to the heat and sunlight.

The Dew Point itself is a great indicator of how comfortable or miserable you will be when you step outside and adjust to the conditions

Dew Points

< 55 degrees – Pleasant
55-60 degrees – Comfortable
61-65 degrees – Getting Sticky
66-70 degrees – Uncomfortable
71-75 degrees – Oppressive
76+ – Miserable

To help combat the heat danger, stay indoors as much as possible, hugging the air conditioner. Avoid strenuous activity. Wear loose, lightweight, light colored clothing made from cotton or linen, as they absorb your sweat and help with cooling.

Your clothing is a vital defense. That’s why the age old habit of guys trying to act macho by stripping off as much as is legally possible, to show off their abs, pecs and biceps, isn’t the most intelligent move that one can make.

You want to dress more like Sheik Omar, and less like a Krispy Critter.

Wear a good sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.

Drink lots & lots of water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they dehydrate the body.

Sports drinks are ok for a once one-jug drink to help replenish your electrolytes, but the body absorbs water much more quickly. Sports drinks are so loaded with minerals that the body misidentifies the juice as food and waits for it to be digested before sending it on to the lower innards to be absorbed into the body. Your dehydration worsens though your stomach is full of liquid. So make water your primary drink.

Drink. Drink even if you aren’t thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

A rough guide to the minimum water intake needed to maintain body fluid while at rest in the shade is as follows:

At 68 degrees drink 1.2 liters or 1.3 quarts
At 77 degrees drink 1.4 liters or 1.5 quarts
At 86 degrees drink 2.5 liters or 2.6 quarts
At 95 degrees drink 5.1 liters or 5.4 quarts

Note that just walking may double these requirements.

It is better to drink small amounts of water, such as 250 – 350 milliliters or ¼ to 1/3 quarts every 20 minutes, rather than try to gulp large amounts of water every hour.

To get down and earthy with the subject, if your urine is clear and there is a lot of it, you are properly hydrated, if this is not the case, if the urine dark or there is little or none being produced, you are in serious danger.

Dehydration has been found to compromise mental function by dropping our brainpower by 25%. This keeps you from thinking straight & doing the smart things you need to do to help keep you above the daisies.

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Recognizing and Treating
Heat-Related Illnesses
Even short periods in high temperatures can cause health problems that range from minor to life threatening. It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness in order to ensure proper treatment.
Heat Rash
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common in young children.
Symptoms:
Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters, with intense tingling and itching. It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under breasts, and in elbow creases and other skin folds.
Treatment:
• The best treatment is to provide a cooler, less humid environment.
• Cleanse area.
• Keep the affected area dry.
• Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort, but avoid using ointments or creams as they keep the skin warm and moist and may make the condition worse.
Treating heat rash is simple and usually does not require medical assistance.
Sunburn
Sunburn should be avoided because it is damaging to the skin and reduces the body’s ability to dissipate heat. While the discomfort is usually minor and healing occurs in about a week, some sunburns can be more severe and require medical attention.

Symptoms:
Skin becomes red, painful and abnormally warm after sun exposure. In severe cases there is also swelling, blisters, fever and headache.
Treatment:
Consult a doctor if an infant under 1 year of age is sunburned or has the following symptoms: fever, fluid-filled blisters and/or severe pain.
Tips for treating sunburn:
• Use Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
• Avoid repeated sun exposure.
• Apply cool compresses or immerse the affected area in cool water.
• Apply moisturizing lotion to affected areas. Do not use salve, butter or ointment.
• Do not break blisters.
• Do not apply ice.
Heat Cramps
Usually heat cramps affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. When the body is depleted of salt and moisture, the low salt level in the muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
Symptoms:
Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms that usually occur in the abdomen, arms, or legs, which may occur in association with strenuous activity.
Treatment:
• If you have a heart problem or are on a low sodium diet, seek medical attention.
• Stop all activity and rest in a cool, shaded area.
• Do not return to the strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside, further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Seek medical attention for heat cramps that do not subside within one hour.
• Drink fluids such as water, fruit juices and sports drinks to rehydrate and replace salt and mineral levels.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are the elderly, people with high blood pressure and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
Symptoms:
Warning signs of heat exhaustion include:
• Heavy sweating
• Intense thirst
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Paleness
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fainting
• Skin may feel cool and moist
• Pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow
If untreated, heat exhaustion may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately.
Treatment:
Cooling measures that may be effective include:
• Move to a cool area, or air-conditioned environment
• Cool, non-alcoholic beverages, as directed by your doctor
• Loosen clothing
• Rest with legs elevated
• Cool compresses to head, neck, face and inside of elbows.
• A cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
• Lightweight clothing
• Call 911 if condition worsens.
Heat Stroke
When heat stroke occurs the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down and body temperature may rise to 106ºF or higher. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
Symptoms:
Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include:
• A body temperature above 103º
• Red, hot and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
Treatment:
Heat stroke can be a life-threatening emergency. Immediately begin cooling the victim and call for medical assistance.
• Call 911
• Get the victim to a shady area.
• Rapidly cool the victim using whatever methods are available:
o Wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan vigorously.
o Spray or sponge with cool water and fan.
o Immerse in a tub of cool shallow water only if awake and alert.
o Place in a cool shower.
• Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the victim’s temperature drops to 101-102º.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call a hospital emergency department for further instructions.
• Do not give fluids or food!
Courtesy of Johnson Controls & The Southern Nevada Health District

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Summer Heat & Dangers To Pets
Or
How To Not Roast Your Chihuahua

Recently as I was leaving a grocery store, I happened to glance towards the pet store up the street. There I saw an elderly gentleman walking out of the store with a small dog on leash. The gentleman seemed well pleased that the dog was prancing about as they crossed the blazing hot parking lot. The dog was prancing, to be sure, but, not due to happiness, but, due to its footpads being scorched.

With this in mind, this month we will discuss heat and pets.

Dogs generally don’t wear shoes. We do, and therefore we have no clue as to how hot the pavement really is.

When the weather radio or TV says it is “90 degrees”, there are a couple of things to consider. One is that the “official” temperature readings are not taken at ground level, but, by international standard they are taken in special “house” 2 meters or about 6 feet above ground level. This house has a double layered roof so that the temperature reading is not “contaminated” by the effects of direct sunlight, and the house is ventilated with louvers so that wind can flow freely, and the heat not build up inside like a hot box.

The actual ground level or surface temperature where Fido & Puss have to walk is much, much hotter.

I once conducted a series of experiments by placing thermometers at different places on the ground to see what temperatures the critters & their footpads were actually having to endure. I included grassy areas, concrete and asphalt. In some places, particularly the sidewalks and pavement, the temperature easily reached 150 degrees.

At temperatures this high second degree burns can occur within two minutes. Third degree burns can occur within three minutes of contact.

Then there is the question of Heat Index. If the “observed” temperature, again measured six feet above ground level, is 90 degrees and the humidity is 50%, the Heat Index is 105 degrees which is dangerous for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke in humans. If the actual surface temperature is 150 degrees, which again is very likely, the Heat Index at 50% humidity for the dog or cat is 385 degrees. Even if the humidity is much lower, say 25%, the Heat Index is still 230 degrees.

This places the animal in extreme danger of an imminent heat stroke.

Remember that dogs cannot tolerate too much heat. Their fur, which covers their entire bodies, prevents them from sweating. The only external surfaces not covered with fur is their nose and paw pads — which explains the damp paw prints you might find on the sidewalk on hot summer days. They can have a heatstroke just as easily, if not more so than we humans can.

You are not doing him a favor by forcing him to walk barefoot/bear paw on 140 degree pavement. To them it feels just as if you were taking a cigarette lighter and searing their paws.

You don’t want to shave outdoor pets either, by the way. If you remove their fur, you are also removing the only protection they from getting a serious sunburn.

All this said, if you think, as was advocated on a local news program, that you are doing Old Shep a favor by taking him for a walk during this heat to keep him from becoming bored and flabby, before taking Muttley for a walk, place your hand on the pavement and see how hot it really is. If it’s miserable to you, it will be miserable to him also.

And, if this sermon is hitting a deaf ear, go ahead and walk him, only you go barefoot also. That way you can both end up bonding in the ER together.

Or just take this well-meant advice and walk him in the morning or wait until the sun has set and it cools off to a tolerable level and try to sticking to grassy areas. Then go have a good time together.

Cats, incidentally usually have enough sense to find a shady cool spot. Make sure their water bowl is full. Or better yet, keep them inside. If you can, make them a permanent indoor feature, as they live much longer indoors.

That way dogs can’t get them and cars can’t squish them.

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Mark’s Almanac

August was originally named “Sextilis”, the sixth Roman month. It was renamed August in honor of Caesar Augustus and lengthened to 31 days, to equal Julius Caesar’s month of July.

August is hot and humid and summer temperatures remain at or near their summer peak.

The rapid vegetation growth of spring is over, and, since conditions are now perfect for the growth of mold, fungi & germs, plants have a “used” look, which is enhanced if rainfall is scarce.

In August the choir of cicadas whine in the afternoon & towards the end of the month the big Yellow Sulphur Butterflies will begin heading to the South-Southeast, giving hints of their soon upcoming fall migration & cats will begin to hint of growing their winter coats.

Hurricane breeding grounds in August are the Atlantic, with Low Latitude storms forming off of Africa crossing the Ocean and either threatening the Eastern Seaboard or striking the Leeward Islands, entering the Caribbean and then striking the Yucatan, or the Western or Northern Gulf coast. Breeding grounds also include the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

21% of a year’s Hurricanes occur in August. 85 to 95% of land falling Hurricanes have not occurred by August 15.

Looking skyward, at the beginning of the month, Mercury is very low in bright twilight visibility beginning about 15 minutes after sunset, just above the west-northwest horizon, with Venus keeping him company, nearby.

On August 16 Mercury will reach his highest point in the sky, or “greatest eastern elongation” of 27.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.

Venus is very low, but, bright at magnitude -3.9, above the west-northwest horizon, 8 angular degrees from Mercury at the beginning of the month.

Mars is shining at magnitude -0.7 just to the right of the head of Scorpius.
Jupiter shining at magnitude -1.7 between Leo and Virgo, shines low in the twilight and sets as twilight ends.

On August 27 there will be a spectacular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in the evening sky. The two bright planets will be extremely close, appearing only 0.06 degrees apart. Look for this impressive pairing in the western sky just after sunset.

Saturn, shining at magnitude +0.3 in Southern Ophiucus glows in the South at dusk, 6 degrees above the orange star Antares, and 11 degrees upper left of Mars.

Uranus shines at magnitude 5.8 in Pisces is high in the Southern sky well before dawn begins.
Neptune, magnitude +7.8 in Aquarius, is high in the South well before the light of dawn.
The moon will disappear from the sky, its night side facing Earth, when New Moon occurs August 2 at 20:55 UTC or 3:55 PM CDT.

The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks on the night of August 12 & 13, with 50 to 60 meteors per hour. This shower, produce by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, ranks as the best of the best, famous for producing bright meteors. The waxing gibbous moon will set after midnight leaving a fairly dark sky, and if you can get away from city lights you should have a good show.
Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
August’s full moon is “Fruit Moon” in Cherokee Folklore, “Women’s Moon” among the Choctaw, “Sturgeon Moon” by the Algonquin and at one time was called “Dog Days Moon” by the Colonial Americans. This will occur August 18 at 9:26 UTC or 4:26 AM CDT.

3371 planets beyond our solar system have now been confirmed as of July 28, per NASA’s
Exoplanet Archive http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/

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This month’s meeting will be on August 9 at 7PM at the National Weather Service Forecast office at the Shelby County Airport.

If for some reason you cannot attend the meeting in person, you can still participate via telephone. The teleconference number is 1-877-951-0997 & and the participant code is 741083.
Hope to see you there!
Mark / WD4NYL
Editor
ALERT Newsletter

www.freewebs.com/weatherlynx/
Mark’s Weatherlynx
Weather Resource Database