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WEATHERING THE STORM 15 1.28.2018 Foundation Problems??? HOME SERVICES FOUNDATION REPAIR, INC www.homeservicesfoundationrepair.com Toll Free: 1-877-256-7900 HOME SERVICES SAVES YOU MONEY! Piers to Stable Clay Pressed Pilings to Refusal Call Us Today For a Free Estimate! RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL SLAB REPAIR DuraSteel Piers Pilings Mud Pumping Raising & Leveling Brick Repairs PIER & BEAM Sills Replaced Joist Replaced Rotten Floors Replaced Raising & Leveling Termite Damage Repair FRENCH DRAINS Wet Basement Wet Crawl Space Poor Yard Drainage Wildfires destroy hundreds of acres of land annually By Sarah Haney NWA Democrat-Gazette The following are heat related illnesses and how to distinguish between them: • Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Heat cramps are the least severe of heat related illnesses, but they are often the first signal that the body is having trouble with the heat. If you are suffering from heat cramps, move to a cooler location and remove excess clothing. Drink cool sports drinks, but nothing with caffeine or alcohol as these will further dehydrate you. If you feel nauseated, discontinue liquids. If the cramps do not subside within an hour of treatment, or if you suffer from heart problems it is important to seek medical attention. • Heat exhaustion occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Symptoms include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, fainting. If not treated, the conditions will worsen. If experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion, move to an air-conditioned place and lie down. Loosen or remove clothing and cool down by either applying cool, wet cloths or taking a cool shower or bath. Much like with heat cramps, sips of water or a cool sports drink are recommended, while caffeine and alcohol should be avoided. If symptoms worsen, you're unable to take fluids, or vomiting occurs, seek immediate medical attention. • Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition and is the most severe of the heat related illnesses. With a heat stroke, the temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Symptoms include extremely high body temperature above 103°F, hot dry red skin, rapid strong pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and unconsciousness. If you are suffering symptoms of heat stroke, call 911 or get to a hospital immediately since delay can be fatal. If waiting for emergency medical personnel to arrive, move to a cooler location and cool down by removing clothing and applying a cold, wet sheet. Unlike the other heat related illnesses, you do not want to intake any fluids. The best way to avoid the risk of heat related illnesses during extreme heat is to avoid going outdoors altogether. "If you don't have to get out, then stay inside where it is cool," stated Benton County's Deputy Director of Emergency Management Michael Waddle. "It's also really important to stay hydrated. You don't realize how much fluids you are losing when you are out in the heat. If you do get out in the extreme heat, wear proper protection — sunscreen and loose-fitting clothing." Living in Northwest Arkansas, it is important to familiarize yourself with extreme heat hazard terminology used by emergency weather services to be better prepared in the event of extreme heat. A "heat wave" is a prolonged period of excessive heat, often combined with excessive humidity. "Heat index" is a number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it feels when relative humidity is added to the air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can potentially increase the heat index by 15 degrees. An "excessive heat watch" is issued when conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event to meet or exceed a heat index of 110° F, or temperatures of 105° F or hotter in the next 24 to 72 hours. An "excessive heat warning" is issued when heat index values are forecast to meet or exceed 110° F, or temperatures of 105° F or hotter for at least 2 days. A "heat advisory" is issued when heat index values are expected to reach 105° F or hotter, or the temperature of 103° F or hotter. It is also recommended to check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone. By staying indoors, drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids without caffeine, and wearing loose-fitting clothing, it is possible to beat the heat of Northwest Arkansas. Wildfires are common throughout the United States, including Northwest Arkansas. Even as recent as an early December 2017 wildfire that burned 425 acres of public and private property in NWA, wildfires can occur at any time. A wildfire is an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. Wildfires can cause death or injury to people and animals, damage or destroy structures, and disrupt community services including transportation, gas, power, communications, and other services. The impact may cover large areas with extensive burning, embers traveling more than a mile away from the wildfire itself, and smoke causing health issues for people far away from the fire. Wildfires can occur anywhere in the country. They can start in remote wilderness areas, in national parks, or even in your back yard. Wildfires can start from natural causes, such as lightning, but most are caused by humans, either accidentally — from cigarettes, campfires, or outdoor burning — or intentionally. Wildfires can occur at any time throughout the year, but the potential is always higher during periods with little or no rainfall, which make brush, grass, and trees dry and burn more easily. High winds can also contribute to spreading the fire. If there is a wildfire in the area, be ready to evacuate on short notice. Make sure and tell someone where you are going and when you have arrived. If you or someone you are with has been burned, seek emergency help immediately and cool and cover burns to reduce chance of further injury or infection. Return home only when authorities say it is safe to do so. For several hours after the fire, maintain a "fire watch." Check and re-check for smoke, sparks or hidden embers throughout the house, including the roof and the attic. Use caution when entering burned areas as hazards may still exist, including hot spots, which can flare up without warning. Evacuate immediately if you smell smoke.