Students and professors alike have been running for shade over the past few days as the temperature in San Luis Obispo County has steadily risen. According to multiple reports, temperatures reached a high of 106 degrees, breaking the previous record of 104 degrees made in 1993.
According to the Public Health Department website, San Luis Obispo County residents can expect temperatures to be as high as 105 degrees during the week.
The Public Health Department and the Cal Poly Health Center are encouraging people to take precautions in this extreme heat. Extreme heat can affect anyone, but according to the Health Department, the “elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases” pose the highest risk.
This extreme change in weather has shocked many because the summer season is technically over. In any case, many students are finding it difficult to go about their daily activities in the high temperatures.
Ethnic studies senior Jenny Brooks said all she wants to do is go to the pool or the beach.
“I am really not motivated to go to class, and forget about working out at the gym,” Brooks said.
Daisy Hurtado, a business administration senior, said even walking to class in the heat is unbearable.
“It is difficult to do anything outdoors,” Hurtado said. “I keep asking myself where this weather was over summer. Great timing, SLO.”
Despite the heat wave on campus, Athletic Media Relations Director Brian Thurmond said sports practice schedules aren’t being affected and the athletics department expects practices to stay on the same schedule but with extra precautions due to health concerns.
“Football is still holding their regular practices of 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m,” Thurmond said.
The Tenera Environmental PG&E DDCP Weather Forecast gives some tips on ways to stay cool and avoid heat related problems. These include:
- Stay hydrated
- Go to a cool place (i.e. a location that is air conditioned)
- Take showers more frequently
- Stay in the shade as much as possible
- Limit physical activity — when you are physical give yourself frequent breaks
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing
- According to the Public Health Department, some signs of illness related to heat are “heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness.”
- The basic advice many health services are giving is to drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages, schedule outdoor activities for early morning or late evening and monitor yourself and others closely during this heat wave.
- The Public Health Agency encourages anyone with further questions on this issue to contact the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department at (805) 781-5500.