Savannah Fire officials shares heat safety as humidity rise

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -Above-average temperatures have closed out the last half of May across the Coastal Empire, and Savannah Fire officials are urging residents to take the heat seriously even before summer officially begins.

At Forsyth Park on Friday, the rising temperatures and thick humidity didn’t stop people from getting outside, including a group playing volleyball. But residents said the humidity can make conditions feel much worse than the thermometer shows.

“The humidity, I know, you don’t think it’ll make you sweat more, but it’ll make you sweat more,” said Savannah resident Skylar Martin.

Savannah Fire Battalion Chief Joseph Shaw said the biggest mistake people make in hot, humid weather is waiting until they feel thirsty to drink water.

“If you’re out working in the sun in weather like this that’s very humid, and you wait until you’re thirsty, it’s already too late as far as hydration,” Shaw said.

Shaw recommends people hydrate before heading outdoors and dress for the conditions with lightweight, breathable, light-colored clothing. He also urged residents to recognize symptoms early, warning that heat exhaustion can progress into heat stroke if someone tries to push through without cooling down and rehydrating.

For Martin, the warning is personal. She said her boyfriend became severely dehydrated and needed medical attention.

“It was to the point where he needed to go to the hospital actually. He was severely dehydrated,” Martin said, adding that he experienced severe leg cramps that left him unable to walk.

Shaw also advised avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks in extreme heat, recommending water and sports drinks instead.

“Some of the drinks you want to avoid during this hot weather is alcohol. You want to avoid sugary drinks,” Shaw said. “You want to stick to your water, Gatorade, things in that nature.”

Savannah Fire officials said anyone who begins sweating heavily, feels dizzy or confused, or has hot skin should get to shade or air conditioning, start hydrating and seek help if symptoms worsen