WILKES-BARRE — It’s hot!
Yes my friends, the temperatures have been unusually high for more than a week, causing all of us to look for ways to stay cool.
For most of us, that means remaining indoors, preferably in air conditioned homes, buildings and cars.
But back in the day, that option was just not the norm — air conditioning was rare in most towns and sometimes we opted for other ways to beat the heat.
As I hop in the Way Back Machine, travel with me to those pre-AC days.
Here we are again in the early 1960s. It’s hot alright, so what are we going to do?
Well, me and my buddies are probably heading to the creek behind our houses. The water runs cool in the creek and the trees are tall and they provide a lot of shade. So we kick back, take off our sneakers and dip our feet into the cool creek water. To pass the time, we talk about sports mostly, like baseball and our favorite teams and players and we jab back and forth about who is better and why. These conversations could last for a couple of hours. And we remained cool, man.
There were other options for us. We would get in the car, roll down the windows, blast the radio and head to Harveys Creek. That first swimming hole right past the ice cream stand was always so refreshing. And there were usually other kids there too. We would splash round, then sit on the big rocks until we dried off. Then we would either repeat the routine, or when done, we would head back home, stopping of course at the ice cream stand.
There were days when one of the big kids in the neighborhood or our parents would take us to Lake Silkworth or North Lake or Harveys Lake or Sylvan Lake or Melody Park for a picnic and a swim. We always enjoyed those hot dogs and hamburgs on the grill and the potato salad, cole slaw and macaroni salad. These were fun times.
And then there was always our front porch — ours was shaded by a huge maple tree and most of the houses had pull-down shades to keep the sun out. We would gather there to talk, play games or take a nap. As the evening fell, Mister Softie would arrive, or Dairy Dan or a trip to Golden Quality would be in order — oh, those CMPs!
All the windows in our homes were open with screens and fans were strategically placed to create a constant flow of what felt like cooler air.
The point is, we got through it. Sure, we had beads of sweat at times, but we managed.
As the Way Back Machine returns to the summer of 2022, there are tips we all should follow to assure we don’t let the heat beat us.
The departments of Aging and Health are urging all Pennsylvanians — but especially older adults — to take steps to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from potentially deadly heat-related illnesses.
Seniors may be less able to respond to extreme temperatures and taking certain medication can affect how a person’s body reacts to heat.
Seniors and all Pennsylvanians are urged to follow these safety tips to avoid heat-related illnesses:
• Drink plenty of water and do not wait until you are thirsty to drink more fluids.
• Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar, as they can cause dehydration (loss of body fluids).
• Stay indoors in air conditioning as much as possible – this is the best way to protect against heat-related illness and death.
• Avoid long periods in the direct sun or in unventilated rooms.
• If you must be outside in the heat, reschedule activities for cooler times of the day and try to rest often in shady areas.
• Dress in light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses – and use a sunscreen of SPF15 or higher.
• Take frequent baths or showers and remain in a cool place.
• Check on those who might be more at risk from high temperatures like infants, children or older individuals.
• Never leave children or pets inside vehicles.
These are all good tips to keep us all safe from those extremely high temperatures and that nasty humidity.
So keep the tips nearby and make sure you stay cool.
And kick back and remember those days at the creek or the lake or on your shaded porch.
Those memories can also be quite refreshing.