MEMPHIS, Tenn. — When there is a heat advisory, heat warning or even a heat alert, some people will still hit the outdoors.
We caught some runners finishing up sprints on the steps of the downtown bluffs Wednesday morning, when the heat index was already 103.
“I knew it was hot outside. I just had to try it. I have my water, keeping hydrated,” said Roco Gandy of Germantown.
“If it gets too too hot, if it gets any hotter, I might say no. I’ll go to the gym,” said Derrick Smith of East Memphis.
Those who work outside say it’s all about taking breaks.
Justin Hodges said the heat caught up with one of his crew workers a few weeks ago.
“He just ended up getting sick, vomiting. We put him in the truck, turned on the air conditioner and called his family to come get him and take him to the doctor. He actually had to get fluids and was off work three to four days,” said Hodges.
What has hit the Mid-South isn’t your typical one- or two-day heat wave.
“I think most folks that are now experiencing four, five, six, seven days of this prolonged heat, that’s what gonna start to take its toll on one’s body,” said WREG weather expert Todd Demers.
WREG weather experts said we might not get a break until early next week.
Some seniors prefer to stay home rather than tackle the heat. Even that can be dangerous if air is not circulating.
It’s something Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association workers ask as they drop off meals to seniors.
“We can feel if the air is not working and it’s too hot in there and look for medical signs if they are overheated or they are sweating too much,” said Dylan Sandifer with MIFA.
With a week to 10 straight days of these near triple-digit temps, caution is the “hot” word of the day.
MIFA said if its volunteers find a senior who needs help with the heat, they will call 911 or the senior’s emergency contact.