It has been observed that art imitates life. If so, it seems there are some artists who have apparently experienced Oklahoma in July and August.

For the art part, there are more than a dozen versions of songs with the name “Heat Wave,” stretching from the 1930s to 2021 by such artists as Martha and the Vandellas, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Ella Fitzgerald, Marilyn Monroe, Linda Ronstadt and Phil Collins.

For the life part (a term used loosely when the thermometer hits triple digits), there’s the current heat wave that’s gripping Oklahoma. The blast furnace that began on Independence Day in

The blast furnace that began on Independence Day in Sequoyah County has stretched over the past two weeks with highs of 100 degrees or more every day except a few near-misses, and temperatures as high as 106 degrees (on July 8, according to the National Weather Service).

If you’ve had enough of the stifling heat wave, you’re about to get more than enough. There is literally no relief in sight, with weather forecasters calling for tripledigit temps every day quite possibly through the end of the month and beyond, dangerous heat indices of 110 degrees or more, and no rain expected to quench our drought and cool our parched landscape. (The National Weather Service forecasted a high of 106 degrees for Tuesday and today.)

Historically, meteorologists have seen stretches of more than two weeks where daily highs peaked in the 100s, and they expect this summer to challenge those unseasonably hot trends.

For the Tulsa region, which encompasses virtually all of eastern Oklahoma and far northwestern Arkansas, there were 16 consecutive days and 21 days overall in August 1936 when the mercury eclipsed 100.

As far as the most days in a month when highs exceeded 100 degrees in Tulsa, for July there were 27 days in 1934, 26 days in 1980 and 2011, and 23 days in 1936 and 1954. In August, there were 26 days in 1936, 25 in 1980, 24 in 1918, 23 in 1913, 22 in 1956, 21 in 1923 and 20 in 1934.

Oklahoma’s record high is 120 degrees, which has happened four times, all in 1936 — July 18 in Alva, July 19 in Altus, Aug. 10 in Poteau and Aug. 12 in Altus. Arkansas’ record high was also 120 in Ozark on the same day as Poteau’s scorcher.

A year ago, the average high temperature for Sequoyah County in July was 89 degrees, with the month’s highest temperature reaching 97 degrees. In August 2021, the average high was 91 degrees and the maximum temperature was 97.

But Sequoyah County has not experienced the kind of oppressive heat currently occurring since the summers of 2011 and 2012. In 2011, there were 31 days from July through August when the mercury peaked above 100, with the hottest day in that stretch being Aug. 3 when it was 113 degrees. In 2012, there were 21 days during those two months in the triple digits, with the hottest being 108 degrees on Aug. 1 and Aug. 3.

The record for the county is 115 degrees in Sallisaw on Aug. 10, 1936, when the state’s hottest reading was 120 just 29 miles south in LeFlore County.

So if art imitates life, why can’t life imitate art? Maybe life could imitate Frank Sinatra’s refreshing song, “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”

Tips for keeping cool in a heat wave

• Stay out of the heat. Avoid direct sunlight and strenuous activity outdoors. If possible, remain indoors. If you do not have air conditioning, consider visiting a location that does, such as the mall or a movie theater.

• Dress for the weather. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and a broad-brimmed hat when outdoors. Stay away from polyester in favor of cotton and linens which are better at repelling the sun’s heat. Also, consider wearing sunglasses and putting on a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater.

• Drink plenty of liquids. Begin drinking before you go outside and, if exercising, drink one quart of liquid an hour to replace lost fluid. Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol which can contribute to the loss of more body fluid. Also, if taking water pills or on a fluid restrictive diet, consult with your physician before increasing your liquid intake.

• Take it slow and easy. Postpone athletic activity or outdoor work during high heat and humidity. Limit outdoor activities to the morning and evening. Drinking sports beverages can replace lost salt and minerals when you sweat. However, those on low-salt diets should check with their doctor before drinking sports beverages. If you work outdoors, in addition to drinking plenty of liquids and dressing appropriately, pace yourself and take frequent short breaks in the shade.

• Eat smaller meals. Instead of the usual rule of eating three square meals a day, eat smaller meals more frequently on days when the sun turns up the heat. Also, avoid highprotein foods which can increase metabolic heat.

Tips for surviving without air conditioning

• Use box fans and ceiling fans to promote air circulation throughout your home. Opening doors in the house and using box fans to push hot air outdoors can function as an “exhaust” system and draw cooler air into the house. In the cooler times after midnight and before the day heats up in the morning, open all windows and promote as much air circulation as possible. When the sun rises, close all doors and windows, making sure to close curtains and blinds as well, to keep the indoors cool for as long as possible. When the outside air cools to a lower temperature than inside (usually at night), open up the windows and turn on the fans again.

• Take advantage of the cooling power of water. Fill buckets or basins and soak your feet. Wet towels and bandannas can have a cooling effect when worn on the shoulders or head. Take cool showers or baths, and consider using a spray bottle filled with cold water for refreshing spritzes throughout the day.

• Head downstairs. Since hot air rises, the upper stories of a home will be warmer than the ground floor. A basement can be a cool refuge from the midday heat.

• Eliminate extra sources of heat. Incandescent light bulbs can generate unnecessary heat, as can computers or appliances left running. Eat fresh foods that do not require you to use the oven or stove to prepare.

• Remember to maintain an adequate level of hydration, which means you’ll need to consume more water than you usually do when it’s hot. If you’re sweating profusely, you will also need to replace electrolytes by eating a small amount of food with your water or by drinking specially-formulated electrolyte replacement drinks. Thirst is the first sign of dehydration; you should drink sufficient amounts of fluids before you feel thirsty in order to prevent dehydration.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine, as both of these substances can act as diuretics and promote dehydration.

• For a homemade air conditioning system, sit in the path of a box fan that is aimed at an open cooler, or pan filled with ice.

• Try to visit public buildings with air conditioning during the hottest hours of the day if the heat becomes unbearable. Libraries, shopping malls and movie theaters can all be good places to cool down.

• Don’t eat large, protein-rich meals that can increase metabolic heat and warm the body.

• Be able to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and true heat emergencies (heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion and heat stroke). Call 911 in the event of a heat emergency and try to cool the victim until help arrives.

• Remember that pets also suffer when the temperature rises. Cooling your pets by giving them a cool bath or shower will help keep their body temperature down. A cool towel on a tile floor to lay on, a cool towel or washcloth laying over the skin next to a fan will also help cool the animal. Make sure they have plenty of cool water to drink as well. Signs of a heat stroke in a pet are rapid panting, wide eyes, lots of drooling, hot skin, twitching muscles, vomiting and a dazed look. Call your vet if you think your pet has a heat stroke.

SEQUOYAH COUNTY TIMES 111 N. Oak  Sallisaw OK  74955

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