J.C. Click looks like he's a pro at at least two things: diving and regulating his body temperature. Athletically diving into water cooler than the air and body temperature is a great way to disperse that metabolized heat. And when he gets out, that water on his skin evaporates and cools him down even more. Click is shown here July 5 diving from a platform at the McClure Pool. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
It’s going to be
very hot this week. That pesky summer high pressure system that normally parks over the central U.S. this time of year just won’t let up.
Temperatures are expected to be in excess of 100 most of the week, but that’s only a few degrees above what our internal body temperature averages. So with a temperature of 98.6 in our bodies, why does it feel so hot when the temperature is 98.6 degrees outside?
Let me explain… with SCIENCE! (booming echo…)
Since we humans are mammals, we must keep our body temperature within a specific range. Too low or too high and we risk serious injury or death. And since our body is constantly generating heat through metabolism, our body must do things to disperse that heat. Enter thermoregulation, which is our ability to keep our body temperature in certain boundaries.
Humans do this by sweating, exhaling, complaining about the heat. The same is true for the other side of the temperature scale. The transfer of heat when it’s cold occurs too easily and the energy is quickly leeched. So to keep warm, humans stop sweating, shiver, complain about the cold.
When the outside temperature is about 70 or so, it feels great because the transfer of heat is about at equilibrium. When it’s 98.6 degrees—or hot—our own homemade heat just can’t escape. Humid climates make the evaporation of sweat process less productive, further decreasing our body’s ability to cool itself.
(Ectotherms, commonly referred to as cold-blooded animals, use external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature, which allows them to function at a lower metabolic rate. But we’re getting a little too deep into biology for the weather blog, where physics is king.)
That point at which the heat transfer, or lack thereof, becomes a problem is different from person to person for a variety of factors. Body mass, metabolic rate, how loudly and obnoxiously one complains about the heat all play a role. The very young haven't fully developed their sweat glands and the elderly have a degraded ability to manage heat, making them all more susceptible to heat-related illness.
With temperatures at high as they are forecast to go over the coming week, anyone outside for any lengthy period of time is susceptible. EMSA’s tips to
protect yourself from the stifling heat include: drink plenty of water; take plenty of breaks in the shade; wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing; avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water.
When you know there is a problem is when the person stops sweating, the skin is hot to the touch and unconsciousness. Those are signs of heat stroke, which is very serious and can lead to quick death. Be aware of the signs and alert authorities if the person exhibits those signs.
How far away is fall, again?
