SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- Tuesday marked the fifth day in a row that the heat index exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
MERR Institute Founder Suzanne Thurman says while people hydrate, marine life swims deeper to cool off. She says this impacts them in the short run if they move too far from their prey sources.
"Ocean heat waves occur when temperatures are above normal for five or more consecutive days," Thurman says. "In that long term situation, yes, the prey sources, the smaller organisms are going to be impacted. Habitat is going to be impacted so that's it's no longer supporting these life forms."
The heat also poses a quick danger to human lives, which can tragically be lost in a matter of minutes.
"Sometimes a parent leaves a child in the car just to run a quick errand, sometimes they forget that a child is in there because they are so busy, sometimes a child may get into an unlocked vehicle and close doors and suffer that way," says AAA Mid-Atlantic Public & Government Affairs Manager Ken Grant.
Grant says that heat stroke is the leading cause of non crash-related fatalities in children 14-years-old and younger. Three in this age group have died in Delaware since 1990, but there have been none so far in 2020.
"We've already seen 10 child fatalities nationwide this year," says Grant. "We see an average of about 39 per year from death due to heat stroke from children being left in cars."
A video posted on the AAA Mid-Atlantic news Facebook page Monday shows why children and pets should never be left in a hot car, no matter how quick the errand is. Ken Grant says it was about 98 degrees and overcast as crayons and chocolate melted. The thermometer reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit in about 15 minutes.
"It can easily reach 150, 170, 180 degrees in there," Grant says. "The human body's organs start to shut down at 104 degrees."
While at home, Lewes BPW General Manager Darrin Gordon recommends people water their lawns in the morning.
"People are using a lot more water," Gordon says. "They're watering their lawns, staying cool."
As for BPW employees, Gordon says they would be sent home if working conditions got too dangerous.
"When there's emergency and needs, we're going to respond to that, but we also ask them to be careful and we want them to be safe," Gordon says. "We want them to stay hydrated, we want them to stay cool, we want them to be with partners so they can watch each other."
WRDE meteorologists say heat indexes over 100 degrees Fahrenheit will stick around for a few more days and drop by the weekend.
