Is Hell humid? Or is it a dry heat?

We did pretty good with getting an earlier start today. Ken got out around 11 AM to mow, and I headed out at 11:30 to plant. I got everything planted and watered except the asters, which I think I'll put in the whiskey barrels that Ken is planning on moving to a new spot. I'll see how everything does and if the new plants survive, but I think I'm probably about done with planting that flower bed. It's a nice mix of mostly whites and blues, with a little hot pink thrown in here and there, and three coreopsis for some yellow oomph. That spot gets plenty of sun, so I try to get very hardy, drought-resistant plants. And darn it, I thought I'd gotten two balloonflower plants, but one was a bellflower, which didn't survive out there last time I planted one. [drat] I planted it close by one of the daisy plants, so maybe they will shelter it a little bit from the intense sun.

After I planted, I went back to water the garden. Things are coming along, and I should be getting zucchini and tomatoes soon, and I picked a banana pepper today! (I planted late, remember.) Unfortunately, the mosquitoes attacked en masse, and I had to spray myself down real quick. They still got me in several spots, including my ear, under my eye, and in the armpit. Little bastards! I watered quickly and didn't linger.

That was a good thing, because I was also getting overheated by this point. The thermometer is reading 88° at the moment, so it was probably 85° out there at the time, which isn't all that bad. But good grief, is it ever humid! I can always tell when I need to stop, because my face gets really hot and I can tell that it's red. Sure enough, when I came in, I was very flushed. I drank some water, splashed my face with cool water, and sat under the ceiling fan for a few minutes. That helped, and then I took a cool shower, which helped even more--although my face was still really hot. I'm finally starting to cool down now. I don't know what my deal is, and it’s not like I was doing really strenuous work, but I seem to have a hard time regulating my body temperature. In the winter, I'm overly sensitive to the cold, and in the summer, I get easily overheated. Someone told me once that it's because I have very little body fat, but I can assure you, I have enough. Maybe I'm part reptile. [doing my lizard impersonation]

It got me to thinking about the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and from emedicinehealth.com, here is some information.

Heat exhaustion symptoms

• Often pale with cool, moist skin
• Sweating profusely
• Muscle cramps or pains
• Feels faint or dizzy
• May complain of headache, weakness, thirst, and nausea
• Core (rectal) temperature elevated-usually more than 100°F-and the pulse rate increased

Heat stroke symptoms

• Unconscious or has a markedly abnormal mental status (dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, or coma)
• Flushed, hot, and dry skin (although it may be moist initially from previous sweating or from attempts to cool the person with water)
• May have slightly elevated blood pressure at first that falls later
• May be hyperventilating
• Rectal (core) temperature of 105°F or more

For heat exhaustion, a person should go to the hospital if any of the following are present:

• Loss of consciousness, confusion, or delirium
• Chest or abdominal pain
• Inability to drink fluids
• Continuous vomiting
• Temperature more than 104°F
• Temperature that is rising despite attempts to cool the person
• Any person with other serious ongoing medical problems

Suspected heat stroke is a true, life-threatening medical emergency. Call for an ambulance and request information as to what to do until the ambulance arrives. A person with suspected heat stroke should always go to the hospital (or call for an ambulance) at once.

To treat mild cases of heat exhaustion:

• Rest in a cool, shaded area
• Give cool fluids such as water or sports drinks (that will replace the salt that has been lost). Salty snacks are appropriate as tolerated
• Loosen or remove clothing
• Apply cool water to skin
• Do not use an alcohol rub
• Do not give any beverages containing alcohol or caffeine

Heat stroke (do not attempt to treat a case of heat stroke at home, but you can help while waiting for medical assistance to arrive.)

• Call 911 immediately
• Move the person to a cooler environment, or place him or her in a cool bath of water (as long as he or she is conscious and can be attended continuously)
• Alternatively, moisten the skin with lukewarm water and use a fan to blow cool air across the skin
• Give cool beverages by mouth only if the person has a normal mental state and can tolerate it

This has been a public service announcement from Nutwood Junction. Everyone take it easy and stay safe! And always, ALWAYS, stay cool!