KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The weather forecast for Sunday expects temperatures around 38 degrees in the metropolis. A heat warning is in effect until 8 p.m. with an expected heat index between 40 and 40 degrees. That could be dangerously hot for anyone who spends an extended period of time outdoors.
““When the body experiences heat exhaustion, its temperature rises,” says Dr. Bryan Beaver of the University of Kansas Health System. “This puts strain on the internal organs – the heart, the kidneys – and is usually accompanied by dehydration.”
At Kauffman Stadium, Royals fans are trying to beat the heat this weekend. The team is allowing fans to bring one unopened bottle of water or sports drink, no larger than one liter.
“I’m a cancer survivor myself – breast cancer – so I know how important it is to stay hydrated,” said Royals fan Yolanda Irvin. “I don’t go anywhere without some hydrating drinks.”
If left unchecked, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which can be fatal. Outside at the K, the Royals are doing several things to cool fans down, including water replenishment and misting stations. Fans say the team is doing a good job of protecting them from the heat.
“Personally, I’m fine,” Irvin said. “I have no problems. I drink enough. The water, I stay in the mist. If I’m a little hot from the sun, I go inside. I go downstairs where the air circulates a little more. I’m fine.”
If you see someone suffering from the heat, Dr. Beaver says you should move the person to a cooler place and begin hydrating them immediately.
“The first thing you need to do is get out of the hot environment if you can,” Dr. Beaver said. “You need to start drinking fluids to cool yourself down. If someone gets to the point where they’re vomiting, they definitely need to go to the emergency room because we’re concerned they might not be able to drink enough fluids.”
“I think people don’t take hydration seriously,” Irvin said. “For me, it’s important. I want to live and have a good time while I’m out here. I have my water, I have my Prime and I have my Pedialyte, all here in this bag.”
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