Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE - Wednesday brought temperatures that felt like 100 degrees.

What's the "gotcha?"

The temperature actually reached a high of 86 degrees Wednesday, and being tricked by the summer's actual temperatures is something to which Georgia has grown accustomed.

According to the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Tommy Rutledge, the tricky summer temperatures in the state can be very dangerous, particularly to children, senior citizens and people who suffer from asthma.

"It also affects those who spend more time working in the hot sun because too much exposure to the sun can be very harmful to the body," Rutledge said.

Rutledge said heat exhaustion and heat strokes are suffered the most during the summer, but some may not know the difference between them.

"Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating and pale skin, whereas with heat strokes, sweating is generally not involved and the skin is red, hot and dry," Rutledge said.

Rutledge said if you notice someone with symptoms of heat exhaustion or a heat stroke, get that person to a cool shaded area out of direct sunlight, loosen tight or constrictive clothing and fan the person to help lower their body temperature.

Rutledge also said one major component of protection from the heat is staying hydrated, which has been echoed by area high school football coaches.

According to Hoschton's Mill Creek High School Head Football Coach Shannon Jarvis, his coaching staff makes sure they try to keep their players hydrated.

"We try to keep them out in the heat to keep them acclimated to the heat to keep in shape, but we keep them drinking water," Jarvis said. "We also have wet, ice-cold towels for them to keep on the back of their necks and this has helped tremendously."

Greater Atlanta Christian's head football coach Jimmy Chupp said his team also beats the heat by staying hydrated, but also by having them train and practice at various locations.

"Our team trains at Quality Sports Training in Suwanee for two hours in the morning," Chupp said. "It is an air-conditioned facility, which is a lot safer."

Staying hydrated is important even for those not working on a football field. According to Shane Creech, co-owner of Cornerstone Construction in Norcross, workers at his company fill up on liquids every morning.

"We have one of those Gatorade coolers that we keep filled, and our roofers take water breaks every 20 minutes," Creech said.

Creech also said while working in the sun, it is important to wear light colors. He said it doesn't help that their company color is black, so his workers try to wear colors such as a light gray to make their work easier.

"The sun definitely slows us down," Creech said. "We just have to take necessary precautions and bear through it."