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Soaring temperatures stretch emergency resources, as people deal with heat-related issues

Authorities are urging the public to listen to their bodies and take appropriate action if they begin to feel too warm.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Our hot temperatures have taken an unusually high toll these past few days, with lots of people suffering heat-related issues.

“I couldn’t stay just directly in the sun all day,” said Tina Burgess, who was visiting Clearwater Beach from Kentucky.

Burgess had planned to spend a little more time on the sand Tuesday but just had to take a break when she started feeling overwhelmed by the heat.

“I mean, I’m just sweaty and hot. I get a tingly feeling sometimes. And you know it’s past time,” she said. “You need to get wet and cool yourself off, drink some water.”

With the air temperature soaring into the mid-90s and a feels-like temperature over 100, visitors and locals say it’s been brutal. 

Petros Alevras says he’s seen several instances of “Lifeguards, giving first aid and so on.” Alevras and his friends were among lots of people trying to rent shade, make shade, or find shade anywhere they could. 

He and his friends found a cool spot right under Pier 60, shaking their heads at visitors who clearly underestimated the risks.

“Yes, they don’t understand it,” said Alevras. “They need to get a little smarter.”

“I just came back from Miami, and it just feels different down there,” said beach visitor Aimee Johnson. “There’s more breeze. But here, it’s just hot.”

As a result, things have also been heating up for rescuers like the Clearwater lifeguards. On Monday, they say all of their personnel were tied up with emergencies simultaneously, stretching their resources thin. That included more than a dozen lifeguards, mobile patrols and supervisors. 

At least half of the incidents, they say, were directly related to the heat.

Related: Stay safe when the heat hits with these tips

“The beach is giving us, you know, a run for our money,” said Clearwater Lifeguard Supervisor Patrick Brafford.

Emergency workers say young people and the elderly can also be especially susceptible to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. So, folks in those age groups need to pay special attention and take precautions. 

Brafford says people need to listen to their bodies and know the warning signs. 

“You start not to feel well. You start to have headaches. You start to feel nauseous. Things like that,” he explained. “Those are classic signs of heat-related illness. You need to respect those and take appropriate precaution after that.”

To cool down, immediately find shade or air conditioning and drink plenty of liquids -- preferably not alcohol or caffeine, since those are diuretics and can have the opposite effect. And even if you’re feeling better, Brafford says don’t tempt fate. Give it at least 24 hours before heading back into the sun. 

“Spend some time in the shade somewhere,” he said. “Kick your feet up and relax and give it another attempt the next day or so.”

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