Spring Break
August Heat
Students coped with record breaking temperatures by staying indoors, enjoying Congaree riverbank
Brad Maxwell
The Daily Gamecock
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News
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"When August hit, that's when it was intense," said Taryn Jaskunas, a second-year social work graduate student.
Jaskunas, who spent her summer in Charleston, said the rest of the summer was beautiful.
The highest temperatures in June and July were around 96 degrees. But August set itself apart by hitting all time highs of 107 degrees more than once in Columbia, according to the National Weather Service.
Leah Hambright, a second-year social work graduate student, said living in South Carolina means getting used to the heat.
"Its not surprising to walk from your door to your car and be drenched in sweat," Hambright said.
Rachel Perkins, a second-year social work graduate student, said after a day out in the heat she often feels drained.
"I get home and collapse with no energy," Perkins said.
Perkins, Hambright and Jaskunas all said they tried to beat the heat this month by staying inside as much as possible.
"We try to do things after 5 p.m.," Jaskunas said. She said she tried to do indoors activities, like shopping during the day.
Many students have been feeling the heat in recent weeks and suffering the consequences of not staying cool.
"Four girls I know that rushed last week passed out because they were overheated," said Sidni Bohannon, a first-year biology student.
Lauren Vincent, public relations coordinator for Student Health Services, said the combination of high temperatures and high humidity can cause the body's heat defense system, sweating, to work slower than normal.
"When humidity is high, sweat doesn't evaporate efficiently, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly," Vincent said.
She reiterated what most students seem to be doing, which is staying indoors in an air-conditioned area to combat the heat.
Symptoms of heat illness include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, nausea, weak but rapid pulse and headaches, Vincent said.
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