RICHMOND, Va (WTVR) - Summer in Richmond is in full swing. It was hot enough Tuesday morning that even the ducks and geese on the pond at Byrd Park were flocking to the shade.
Near record breaking temperatures and high humidity are forecast for the better part of this week. Local experts urge Richmonders to be aware of heat stroke and dehydration.
"It's important that the body gets what it needs," Santiago Prada, a nationally certified fitness trainer at the downtown YMCA, said.
Prada said that even relatively simple tasks, like walking around or working in a garden, are potentially dangerous when conditions get this hot.
"As it gets humid outside, it becomes hard for your bodies to get rid of sweat. With the humidity rising, our body isn't able to cool off the way it should," Prada said.
On average, anyone who stays out in the sun for extended periods of time should drink 7-10 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes, according to fitness experts.
Prada added that it can only take a matter of minutes for dehydration and heat stroke to develop into major concerns, and symptoms like nausea or becoming light headed should never be ignored. If you notice these symptoms, stop what you are doing immediately, and cool down.
The Richmond Ambulance Authority told CBS 6 they have crews ready to respond at all times of the year, and that most people in Richmond do a pretty good job of handling the heat. Still, they urge people to follow the advice of experts and stay safe when temperatures begin to shoot up.
