Updated, June 26
Visitors and residents on the Island endured sizzling temperatures that peaked at 93 degrees this week as part of a larger heatwave striking the entire East Coast.
The high temps caused an uptick in patients visiting Martha’s Vineyard Hospital’s emergency department, according to health officials.
“We have seen a noticeable uptick in emergency department visits this week related to the extreme heat,” emergency medical department director Dr. Karen Casper wrote to the Times on Thursday. “Patients have presented with symptoms such as dehydration, lightheadedness, severe fatigue, and in some cases, confusion consistent with heat stroke.
“These presentations are particularly concerning given the intensity of the recent heat wave,” Casper added.
Elsewhere around the Island this week, people were either staying indoors, seeking shade or trying to stay hydrated.
Up Island, with two electric fans pointing at her on Wednesday, licensed massage therapist Elina Savage was working at the opening day of the Chilmark Flea Market for her business, Wholistic Elements.
The open air market had guests seeking refuge from the sun in the shade under trees and vendor tents. Although the air was mostly still, the occasional gust of wind was appreciated..
“Every cool breeze restores my will to live,” Savage told The Times.
At Owen Park in Tisbury on Wednesday, electrician Joshua Robertson and his apprentice, Caitlyn O’Donnell, were finishing up a project involving the safe removal of an electrical meter from inside the park’s bandstand. Aside from staying hydrated, Robertson said that he and O’Donnell had to take 10-minute breaks for every hour of work, which he said wasn’t configured into the client’s final bill.
“At the end of the day, as long as we get to go home and have no serious health concerns, then that’s all that matters,” he said.
Although the electricians haven’t had to cancel work, O’Donnell said that they would if the heat reaches dangerous levels.
On top of the heat wave, state officials also issued an air quality alert for much of Massachusetts, including the Vineyard on Tuesday. MassDEP advises people in sensitive groups to reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
While the heat wave was most intense Tuesday and Wednesday, meteorologists say that relief is on the way.
Bryce Williams, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said that the heatwave — defined as a period of two or more consecutive days with abnormally hot weather — began Tuesday at 11:45 am. Temperatures reached a high of 93 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday at 1:35 pm. The Island’s relative humidity levels during the daytime averaged between 65 and 75 percent.
Williams said that the heatwave is projected to end Wednesday evening, with temperatures in the 70’s expected for the rest of the week.
The Vineyard hospital issued guidance to prevent heat stroke, provided below:
Extreme heat can be dangerous and even life-threatening if proper precautions are not taken. Although anyone can suffer from a heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Those at greater risk include: Anyone without effective cooling or adequate hydration; older, very young, or pregnant individuals; outdoor workers or athletes; individuals with chronic medical conditions (e.g., heart disease, lung disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, serious mental illness); individuals on medications that affect thermoregulation or hydration status (e.g., certain cardiac medications, diuretics, antipsychotics, SSRIs)
You can make sure that you, your family and your neighbors can be prepared for the heat with the following tips:
Check in on the most vulnerable people in your community. If someone is hot and confused, seek medical attention immediately at your local emergency department or call 9-1-1. Cover windows with drapes, shades or aluminum foil-covered cardboard to block heat from the sun. Know where the cool places in your neighborhoods are. Stay in air-conditioned places (libraries, grocery stores, homes) if possible. If you’re outside, stay in the shade. Wear breathable, lightweight clothing. Stay hydrated: Drink water before you go out into the heat and take small sips of cool water every 15 minutes if you get overheated. Never leave a child, adult or animal alone inside a car on a warm day. Avoid strenuous/high-energy activities.
This post was updated with information from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Power outages will be occurring across the NE due to overloaded systems.
And By Print time its 65 degrees. Come on people its New England.