HUNTLEY – It caused once vibrant green grass to turn a parched brown. It almost dried up Huntley’s hopes of a proper Fourth of July celebration. It turned car interiors into torture chambers, and it seemed to have no mercy.
Although the weather has cooled down this past week, no one in Huntley is likely to forget the recent wave of hot, dry weather felt over the past few weeks.
There is still plenty of summer sun left, however, and such weather can come back at any time. Debra Quackenbush, Community Information Coordinator for the McHenry County Department of Health, shared information on the heat and what residents can do should it come back.
One of the key things seniors must do in hot weather is stay hydrated.
“Don’t wait until you are thirsty, because your body won’t be able to catch up if you become dehydrated. So it’s always good to drink throughout the day,” Quackenbush said.
Extreme heat calls for a lifestyle change. Seniors, who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of heat, are advised to stay inside as much as possible.
“In this type of weather, you’ve really got to modify your activities,” Quackenbush said. “If you’re going to walk your dog or you’re going to exercise, do it in the early morning hours, and try not to be outside.”
Quackenbush also advised that simply being in the shade is not enough to escape the heat nor should it make anyone think they can afford to be outside for a long period of time.
When indoors, a standing fan or ceiling fan does not provide enough cooling. Quackenbush recommended turning on air conditioning or visiting a public cooling station in the area.
Centegra Health Bridge at 10450 Algonquin Rd. in Huntley hosts a cooling station for those looking for relief. Huntley’s Village Hall at 10987 E Main St. also operates as a cooling station when necessary. More cooling stations can be found on the McHenry County Department of Health’s website mcdh.info
Being a good neighbor is especially important when the temperatures soar. Quackenbush encouraged residents to check up on their neighbors occasionally to make sure they are doing all right in the heat.
The heat can also complicate medications and necessitate changes in the way people take medications.
“Talk to your primary care physician, your doctor, and ask them ‘Is there something that I shouldn’t take during extreme heat?’ because they know better on what you can do to modify your prescriptions,” Quackenbush said.
Pets feel the heat just as much, if not more, than their owners. Quackenbush advised not leaving pets in cars even if the windows are cracked for any period of time when temperatures are as high as they were.
Weather conditions were not only hot, but dry. According to an MCDH press release, average stream flow for the Fox River below the Algonquin dam was 384 cubic feet per second between June 1 and 26 – 59.8 percent lower than its average of 955 cfs for that period.
Conservation of water, Quackenbush said, has become very important. She recommended residents do things like only watering when absolutely necessary, washing full loads instead of several small loads, and bathing every other day instead of daily.
One of the deadliest effects of hot weather is that the lack of moisture in the air and dried grass and trees present prime conditions for fires to start.
Ken Madziarek, fire inspector with the Huntley Fire Protection District, said the village has seen a slightly higher number of fires this summer than usual, but not so high as to cause alarm.
Most notable was a fire that burned down a barn on Harmony Road on June 29. Madziarek offered advice to residents as to how to keep their homes as fireproof as possible.
“One thing they can do is keep mulch at least 18 inches away from the side of the house because if the mulch does catch on fire, that will keep it from moving into the siding,” he said. “They can water as much as the village will allow them to.”
Madziarek advised against overwatering, but said keeping mulch beds moist is a good precaution. He also advised residents to be cautious with Malibu in-ground lighting and to keep such lights away from mulch.
The Fire Protection District has not received a significant number of calls regarding ailments like heat stroke or exhaustion, according to Madziarek.
“People are being pretty smart, staying in their air conditioning as much as possible,” he said.
