Heat Advisory In Full Effect

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports July 17 that more extreme weather, throughout the entire South Central and Central Pennsylvania area, is expected. Afternoon temperatures will reach the 100-degree mark and there is no relief in sight. July 18 and 19 could see afternoon temperatures of up 104-degrees and a strong cold front from the Great Lakes are expected to produce severe thunderstorms for Saturday, July 20. 

With heat index values at 100 and above the strong potential for heal related illnesses is present. Young children and the elderly are often thought of as the main concern when severe weather conditions are in effect. But anyone is susceptible to the life-threatening side effects of unforgiving weather conditions. The most common health concerns during hot weather are dehydration and heat stroke. By taking preventative measures, these life-threatening situations may possibly be avoided. The Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) advises the first preventative measure as the ability to identify the onset of both dehydration and heat stroke.

Signs of dehydration include excessive thirst, less-frequent urination, dry skin, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth, increased heart rate and breathing. In children, additional symptoms may include, dry mouth and tongue, no tears when crying, no wet diapers for more than 3 hours, sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks, high fever listlessness, irritability, and skin that does not flatten when pinched and released.  Precautionary measures to avoid the harmful effects of dehydration include drinking plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun. Make sure that you are taking in more fluid than you are losing and try to schedule physical outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day.

Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency. It is a condition that develops rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment The most common symptoms of heat stroke are headache, dizziness, disorientation, agitation or confusion, sluggishness or fatigue, seizure, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, a high body temperature, loss of consciousness, rapid heart beat, and hallucinations. It is important for the person to be treated immediately as heat stroke can cause permanent damage or death.

There are some immediate first aid measures you can take while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Immediately get the person indoors. Have the person lie down in a cool area with their feet slightly elevated. Remove clothing and gently apply cool water to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating. Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits. Precautions that can help protect you against the adverse effects of heat stroke include drinking plenty of fluids during outdoor activities, (water and sports drinks are the drinks of choice; avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol as these can lead to dehydration), wear lightweight, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing in light colors.

Most importantly when aiming to prevent heat related illnesses is to schedule vigorous activity and sports for cooler times of the day. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses and using an umbrella. Increase time spent outdoors gradually to get your body used to the heat. During outdoor activities, take frequent drink breaks and mist yourself with a spray bottle to avoid becoming overheated.

Children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes. Residents should check up on elderly relatives and neighbors. Also, please remember to provide pets with adequate water and shelter from the sun.

*Medical Advice Disclaimer: The information included in this article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider.

Jennifer Pharr Davis slated to speak at the Appalachian Trail Museum

The Appalachian Trail Museum announced on July 1 that long-distance hiker, Jennifer Pharr Davis, will recount stories of hardship and joy from her 46-day record hike on the

Appalachian Trail, when she speaks at the Appalachian Trail Museum at 7 p.m. July 12.

Davis has hiked over 11,000 miles of long distance trails. She has trekked on six continents and currently holds endurance records on the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail and Bibbulmun Track. She is the first woman to be the overall record holder on the Appalachian Trail. Davis set this mark by hiking the 2,181-mile trail in 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes at an average of 46.9 miles per day.

In 2008, Davis was named “Blue Ridge Outdoors Person of the Year.” In 2011, Jennifer appeared in the Sunday edition of the New York Times; and on national television and radio shows such as CNN Headline News, the CBS Early Show, and NPR’s Talk of the Nation. She was also named a “National Geographic Adventurer of the Year” 2012 and voted Ultrarunning Magazine’s top female performance of 2011.

Davis has also authored four books, including three North Carolina guidebooks and her hiking memoir, “Becoming Odyssa.”  Prior to the presentation, Davis will lead a hike of approximately 4 miles, round trip, from the Appalachian Trail Museum to the Appalachian Trail’s halfway sign. The hike will begin at 4 p.m. For more information about this presentation or the Appalachian Trail Museum, please visit the Museum’s website. 

Maryland man pleads guilty to illicit sexual conduct with a minor

Frederick Singletary, 42, of Parkville, Maryland, pled guilty on June 21 to federal charges of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography announced the FBI.

According to the evidence, on February 12, 2013, Singletary contacted an undercover officer with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, who had posted an ad on a social networking site. Over the next few days, Singletary engaged in online e-mail, instant message, text message, and telephone conversations with the undercover officer, whom he believed was the father of an underage girl. Singletary arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child.

Singletary also sent the undercover officer 10 images of child pornography. On February 14, 2013, Singletary traveled from Maryland to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived, he was arrested. Singletary is scheduled for sentencing by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell on September 20, 2013. Singletary faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct and a maximum of 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography, as well as a fine of $250,000 on each count.

Kings Gap ‘Bring Back the Monarchs’

Kings Gap Environmental Education Center Program Director, Gina Padilla announced on June 17 that the center will host “Bring Back the Monarchs” on June 30. This free program is open to the public.

The Center offers this program to educate on, and bring focus to, monarch butterfly conservation efforts. According to the Center, Monarch butterfly populations are down, primarily due to loss of proper food and habitat. “Bring Back the Monarchs” will teach participants how to bring back these beautiful creatures by creating Monarch-friendly habits in your own yard.

The program will run from 2 to 3 p.m. and participants will begin in the education building with an overview of the monarch lifecycle and habitat, then move outside into the garden for a tour of butterfly habitat and explanation of the national certification process for their own habitats. For more information about programs contact the Center at (717) 486-3799.

What: “Bring Back the Monarchs” ages ten and up

When: 2-3 p.m. June 30

Where: 500 Kings Gap Road, Carlisle, PA 17015

Cost: Free

Pennsylvania state parks to offer backpacking program

Regional Outdoor Recreation Coordinator, George Barner announced on June 13 that the Pennsylvania State Parks Southern Region will host “Introduction to Backpacking” and invites the public to participate in this summer long series.

The “Introduction to Backpacking” series will consist of an orientation meeting, four daylong hikes and an opportunity for an overnight adventure. Exploring trail throughout the Lower Susquehanna and Cumberland Valleys, the series is intended to teach participants about how to have a safe and enjoyable backpacking experience.

An orientation meeting will be held on June 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. Participants can expect to learn about the series, with topics such as preparing your body for a backpacking trip, planning a trip, choosing gear, packing a backpack and Leave No Trace. Complete information packets will be available at this meeting. Although the orientation meeting is free but space is limited and registration is required.

The series will include day hikes at Gifford Pinchot State Park, Codorus State Park, Colonel Denning State Park, and Susquehannock State Park beginning June 30 to July 28. The overnight trip, location to be announced, will take place Aug. 24-25 and the cost of the series if $45. This series is for participants 16 years of age and older and   participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information or to register for the “Introduction to Backpacking” series, please visit VisitPAParks, email Gbarner@pa.gov or call (814) 733-2203. 

Public invited to participate in ‘Appalachian Bat Survey’

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) announced June 6 that PGC biologists are seeking assistance from the public. Summer 2013 a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data will occur. The monitoring is deemed highly important to measure bat mortalities caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease that affects hibernating bats in Pennsylvania and other parts of the eastern United States.

More than a million cave bats have died from the fungus Geomyces destructans (Gd) that causes WNS over the past five years. The pervasive Gd strikes while bats are in communal hibernation, often clustered like sardines in a tin to conserve energy. Bats spend about sis months in hibernation and live off of a finite supply of energy. Gd irritates the deep-sleeping bats, forcing them out of their hibernation, which requires increased energy consumption from a reserve that barely sustains them through winter. Death often follows, regardless of whether the bat stays put or flies

Although WNS primarily kills bats in the winter, the complete impact of the disease cannot be measured using the winter estimates. The public is needed to help conduct a summer bat count to fully gauge the impact of WNS. While all are encouraged to participate, the PGC urges people who’ve previously participated in a bat count to do so again. For more information and an application to participate in this vital wildlife conservation effort, please visit “Appalachian Bat Count.”

Public invited to participate in ‘Appalachian Bat Survey’

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) announced June 6 that PGC biologists are seeking assistance from the public. Summer 2013 a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data will occur. The monitoring is deemed highly important to measure bat mortalities caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease that affects hibernating bats in Pennsylvania and other parts of the eastern United States.

More than a million cave bats have died from the fungus Geomyces destructans (Gd) that causes WNS over the past five years. The pervasive Gd strikes while bats are in communal hibernation, often clustered like sardines in a tin to conserve energy. Bats spend about sis months in hibernation and live off of a finite supply of energy. Gd irritates the deep-sleeping bats, forcing them out of their hibernation, which requires increased energy consumption from a reserve that barely sustains them through winter. Death often follows, regardless of whether the bat stays put or flies

Although WNS primarily kills bats in the winter, the complete impact of the disease cannot be measured using the winter estimates. The public is needed to help conduct a summer bat count to fully gauge the impact of WNS. While all are encouraged to participate, the PGC urges people who’ve previously participated in a bat count to do so again. For more information and an application to participate in this vital wildlife conservation effort, please visit “Appalachian Bat Count.”