In the August 2015 issue

Jul 30, 2015 09:00AM ● By Pamela Johnson

The dog days of summer are upon us and you might think that they have something to do with hot and humid weather. Well, we “Googled*” it, and at http://wxbrad.com/where-did-the-%E2%80%9Cdog-days-of-summer%E2%80%9D-term-come-from-other-celestial-..., we found that that isn’t exactly where the term originated from; the dog days of summer are actually July 3 through August 11. Those days are the 20 days before and 20 days after the “Dog” star Sirius rises and falls in conjunction with sun. Sirius is the brightest star in the constellations Canis Major. The ancients Romans believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. During the time between July and August the “dog” star rising with our sun made the ancients think the heat of two stars where making us hotter. In modern times we know that there is no heat generated from this very distant start, but the term stuck. So even in modern times we consider the hot and muggy time of the summer between late July and mid-August as the dog days of summer.

After the winter we just lived through, I’m not complaining, believe me. But too much head can cause damage, just as too much cold can.

Stay Cool:
According to the CDC’s website (http://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat), you should keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness. They suggest
    Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible.
    Find an air-conditioned shelter.
    Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.
    Avoid direct sunlight.
    Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
    Take cool showers or baths.
    Check on those most at-risk twice a day.

Stay Hydrated:
Because your body loses fluids through sweat, you can become dehydrated during times of extreme heat.

    Drink more water than usual.
    Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids.
    Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.
    Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
    Remind others to drink enough water.

Stay Informed:
Stay updated on local weather forecasts so you can plan activities safely when it’s hot outside.

    Check local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips.
    Learn the symptoms of heat illness.
    For more information, please click here.

While you’re staying cool, why not take a look through the following articles from the August print edition of the Bellingham Bulletin, or if you prefer to page through the PDF, for the Bellingham Public Library (pg. 19) and Council on Aging (pg. 20) August news/listings, and more great information, simply scroll through the article thumbnails below and click on the newspaper icon below.