Keeping Cool while Record High Temperatures Fry Mexico
Nayarit Editor Tara A. Spears
All of March and April 2018 I smugly remarked to friends how unusually mild the temperatures were: low humidity, enough breeze that there was no need for fans or AC. Perfect weather for any outdoor activity or just people watching on the beach. The hordes of seasonal residents had pretty much vacated Jaltemba Bay for northern homes before the end of April.
Bam! It was as if someone kicked the thermostat to broil! The weather turned oppressive May 1 with the heat index in the triple digits and staying that way for the entire month. It was pretty dry in April but from the unrelenting sun and heat, the ground is now baked to a concrete-like hardness. Ponds and creeks have dried up. Swimming pool water levels drop an inch (4 centimeters) or more per day due to evaporation.
The ocean breeze is now a furnace blast that increases your sweat instead of cooling. Animals seek shade and stay off the surfaces due to the stored heat. If you walk on the beach after 9 am your feet will literally blister. Lest you think I’m exaggerating, let’s look at the stats.
According to the Mexican federal Weather Service (Coordinacion General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, Conagua Semarnat) “May 31’s heat wave led federal Civil Protection authorities to declare extraordinary emergency situations in 573 municipalities in 22 Mexican states.” Yes, central and southern Mexico is generally a warm climate but right now it is dangerously hot, which is different. Besides the shocking high temperatures you need to factor in the humidity over 75%. The intense heat does make it difficult to breathe and move so I applaud the construction and agricultural workers staying on the job. When I purchased gas today the Pemex workers, who are in the shade, looked like they had been hosed down because their clothes were that wet from sweat. I can’t imagine those that are in the direct sun.
Getting heat stroke is a big concern but there are preventative measures one can take. As the meteorologist said, “You have to warn people to take care of themselves.” Heat stroke occurs more often in children under 6 years old and adults over 65 years of age. You must be very careful to keep the body temperature from overheating, which is indicated by a queasy feeling with the main symptoms being dizziness, excessive sweating at the beginning, redness of the skin and face, fever, acceleration of the heart rate, weak heartbeat, headache and/ or convulsions in severe instances..
To avoid problems the Civil Protection of Mexico recommends: avoid going out in the sun between 11:00 and 4:00; wear loose, light color clothing and, although it might seem contradictory, wear long sleeves because it protects the skin from the sun’s rays. Wear a higher level of sunscreen lotion, above 30. Hats, hats, hats, even if you are just going from the car to a building. It is very important to carry a bottle of water and to be constantly consuming this liquid, even when you are not thirsty.
Lastly, beware of the increased risk of food poisoning. High temperatures cause food to spoil more quickly. Refrigerate your food well at home and if you take food to work, try to have them in a cool place. From now to November, I keep a small cooler in the car to put perishables in even if I’m only going a half kilometer.
Don’t forget about the animals. If you have outside pets, double up the amount of water available to them and be sure they have shade at all times. My fur baby doesn’t even want to linger outside- she hurries up to get back in front of the fan.
As one person on the street in the hot zone said, “It’s so hot even three beers don’t cool ya down!” Hopefully the rainy season will begin soon and break the heat wave. In the meantime, take precaution.
