By Jackson Carpenter & Mary Kathryn Carpenter

NATCHEZ — If you can’t take the heat, you may want to think about staying out of the sun.

At least, that is what Dr. Edward Daly of Natchez’s Internal Medicine Associates advises.

“The middle of the day is obviously the worst,” Daly said.

Staying out of the sun is not a possibility for some people. Staying hydrated plays a key role in coping with hot weather, as many do activities outside during the hottest hours of the day.

For those who work outside during the heat of the day, it is necessary to take more breaks and consume plenty of fluids.

Von Manchester of Live Oak Construction knows just how harsh the heat can be.

“We are having to take a lot more breaks, so our production has been cut in half,” Manchester said.

Stacy Ferrington, an employee of Live Oak Construction, knows “(The heat) saps all the energy out of you.”

In an attempt to avoid the devastating heat, some companies such as Live Oak have shifted work hours from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. -3:30 p.m.

Also, the employees at Live Oak know the importance of staying hydrated and keep internal sodium levels up.

To accomplish that the construction workers are continuously consuming water and pickles, which are high in sodium.

When it comes to staying hydrated, Cathedral football head coach Ron Rushing is an avid hydration advocate.

“We are steadily just pumping water in (our football players),” Rushing said.

Along with hydration, both education and heat acclimation play significant roles in staying healthy during scorching temperatures.

Officials at the Natchez Senior Center think education is key.

“We try to educate. We try to have someone come in and speak or collect some information to present to them,” senior program coordinator Carla Monroe said.

Along with hydration and education, Daly said heat acclimation is just as important.

“Being acclimated to the heat is a huge part of it,” Daly said. “Anyone at a higher risk, such as the elderly or young children, need to become more acclimated to the heat, even when they spend the majority of their time inside.”

While working outside this summer, keep an eye out for symptoms of heat illness, such as dizziness, headaches, a lack of perspiration, or nausea, Daly advised.

If someone begins displaying these symptoms, get the person out of the heat, put fluids in them and place them in a well-ventilated area.