With temperatures in the Willamette Valley hitting the mid-90s, medical providers and safety officials warn citizens to take precautions before exposing themselves to harsh weather.
Medical Director for PeaceHealth’s Sacred Heart emergency department, Christoffer Poulsen says that people typically aren’t prepared for abrupt temperature changes.
“People, when the weather turns particularly warm, use it as opportunity to engage in lots of outdoor recreation,” says Poulsen, “which is one of the nicest things about living in the Willamette Valley. We have beautiful summers; however, with the sun and the heat, certain precautions aren’t necessarily taken, particularly early in the season.”
Poulsen says that variations of heat-related illnesses are induced by direct sun exposure, lack of sunscreen, and hydration issues, including drinking too much caffeine or alcohol.