EAST TEXAS (KETK) \u2013 After many areas of East Texas reported temperatures of over 100 degrees this week, it\u2019s more important than ever to stay cool and know the signs of heat-related illness.<\/p>\n
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, average temperatures in the lower 48 states have gone up by 60% from the global average since 1970. The agency expects temperatures to continue to rise in the U.S. because of climate change.<\/p>\n
They also expect the number of extremely hot days over 95 degrees to increase, alongside an increase in multi-day heat waves, which may become even hotter and more widespread. This means it\u2019ll only be more important to know how to stay cool going forward.<\/p>\n
In order to help East Texas beat the heat, KETK News has put together the following list of tips that can help people, pets and homes stay cool:<\/p>\n
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, but stay away from very sugary drinks.<\/p>\n
Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.<\/p>\n
Avoid high-energy activities or work outdoors during midday heat if possible.<\/p>\n
Wear sunscreen; sunburn affects the body\u2019s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated.<\/p>\n
Watch for heat-related illnesses.<\/p>\n
Consider pet safety.
\n For pets outside, make sure they have plenty of cool water and access to shade.<\/p>\n
Take cool showers or baths.<\/p>\n
Do not leave children or pets in cars.<\/p>\n
Stay up to date on heat advisories from local weather sources.<\/p>\n
Pace yourself.
\n If you\u2019re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually.
\n Cover windows with drapes or shades.<\/p>\n
Use weatherstripping on doors and windows.<\/p>\n
Use window reflectors to reflect heat back outside.<\/p>\n
Add insulation in your home to keep the heat out.<\/p>\n
Identify cool places to go in the community such as libraries and shopping malls or contact the local health department to find a cooling center near you.<\/p>\n
Anyone who\u2019s a child, over 65, pregnant, has a pre-existing medical condition, a mental health condition, or even anyone with a substance use disorder faces a higher risk of heat-related illness like heat stroke, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n
In order to help East Texans notice and recover from those heat-related illnesses, KETK News has put together the following list of symptoms and remedies for heat stroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion:<\/p>\n
Heat Stroke<\/strong> What to do:<\/strong> What to do:<\/strong> Heat Cramps<\/strong><\/p>\n Symptoms to look out for:<\/strong> What to do:<\/strong> The Environmental Protection Agency also warns that extreme heat can negatively impact people\u2019s mental health, leading to a potential risk of increased suicide rates and violence between people.<\/p>\n Those who work outdoors face an added risk from heat as well, with the agency saying the number of days in a year that are unsafe for farmworkers is expected to double by the middle of this century.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" EAST TEXAS (KETK) \u2013 After many areas of East Texas reported temperatures of over 100 degrees this week, it\u2019s more important than ever to stay cool and know the signs of heat-related illness. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, average temperatures in the lower 48 states have gone up by 60% from the … Continue reading Tips to stay cool as East Texas heat hits triple digits<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1527576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-state-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-26 02:58:12","action":"change-status","newStatus":"trash","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1527576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1527576"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1527576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1527581,"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1527576\/revisions\/1527581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1527576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1527576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ktbb.com\/post\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1527576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n Symptoms to look out for:<\/strong>
\n High body temperature
\n Hot, red, dry or damp skin
\n Fast, strong pulse
\n Headache
\n Dizziness
\n Nausea
\n Confusion
\n Losing consciousness<\/p>\n
\n Call 911 right away
\n Do not give the person anything to drink
\n Move the person to a cooler place
\n Help lower the person\u2019s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath
\n
\nHeat Exhaustion<\/strong>
\n Symptoms to look out for:<\/strong>
\n Heavy sweating
\n Cold, pale and clammy skin
\n Fast, weak pulse
\n Nausea or vomiting
\n Muscle cramps
\n Tiredness or weakness
\n Dizziness
\n Headache
\n Fainting<\/p>\n
\n Move to a cool place
\n Loosen clothes
\n Put cool, wet cloths on body or take a cool bath
\n Sip water
\n Get help immediately if you are throwing up, if symptoms get worse or last longer than an hour.<\/p>\n
\n Heavy sweating during intense exercise
\n Muscle pain or spasms<\/p>\n
\n Stop physical activity and move to a cool place
\n Drink water or a sports drink
\n Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity
\n Get help immediately if cramps last longer than one hour, if you\u2019re on a low-sodium diet or if you have heart problems.<\/p>\n