The mercury is rising so get inside or in the shade, if possible.
According to the National Weather Service, the majority of New Mexico is in a heat advisory but the Middle Rio Grande Valley is under an excessive heat warning — meaning dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 106 expected. For the heat advisory, temperatures up to 103 are expected.
If people need to be outside for work or other activities, it’s important to prepare. Make sure you stay hydrated and only be in the sun for a short amount of time.
“You want to drink fluids. You want to rest frequently. You want to be in cool spots,” said Los Lunas Fire Chief John Gabaldon. “You want to avoid strenuous activity when you don’t have to. You want to have cooling items around you like water bottles, things to mist you to keep you cool and make sure that you have shade available.”
Heat exhaustion followed by heat stroke can come quickly in these temperatures.
Gabaldon says some early symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness thirst, sweating, nausea and weakness.
“Then you start leading into the signs of heat stroke, which at that point, you’re no longer sweating and you’re starting to get confused,” the chief said. “Symptoms just get a lot worse from there.”
Once the heat exhaustion turns into heat stroke, call 911 for help. A person experiencing heat stroke symptoms may show signs of dizziness, confusion, fatigue or weakness, and they will have dry skin because they stop sweating.
If someone does have these symptoms, Gabaldon says to put them in the shade and try to actively cool them down. If possible, spritz them with water and use fans. Make sure their clothing is loose, so air can contact the skin to begin to cool them off.
If people need to find somewhere to cool down and they cannot afford to go to places such as restaurants or movie theaters, they can ask the county for help. Gabaldon recommends reaching out to the non-emergency line at the Valencia Emergency Regional Communication Center to see if there’s anything local fire departments can do or if any resources are available.
Currently, there are no plans for cooling facilities in Los Lunas. If needed, the chief says, the fire department can have a refuge shelter for the community within the hour with water and supplies.
Belen Fire Chief Charles Cox said the Belen Fire Department is using the training room in the fire station, 121 S. Fifth St., for residents to use as a cooling station from 12-5 p.m. until the temperatures drop.
Jesse Jones lives in Albuquerque with his wife and son. Jesse graduated from of the University of New Mexico twice. This spring, he graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism and, in 2006, he received a bachelor’s degree in university studies with an emphasis in photojournalism. He is a current fellow of the New Mexico Local News Fund.
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April 25, 2024
