Heat Related Illnesses and Their Symptoms:
- Heat Cramps - Heavy sweating and painful spasms usually in the leg or abdomen muscles.
- Heat Exhaustion - The person becomes weak and is sweating heavily. The skin is cold, pale and clammy. Fainting and vomiting accompanies heat exhaustion.
- Heatstroke/sunstroke - High body temperature (106 degrees or higher) along with hot dry skin and a rapid and strong pulse. Unconsciousness is possible.
Heat Index Values and Their Effects:
- 80 to 90 degrees - fatigue with prolonged exposure
- 90 to 105 degrees - sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure
- 105 to 130 degrees - Sunstroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion likely
- More than 130 degrees - heatstroke highly likely
A Presidential Executive Order from Washington, D.C., in 1999 brought attention to the Invasive Species Act. The addition of turf-type grasses to the invasive list has many people in the turfgrass area reacting. Invasive species and "noxious" species are often used interchangeably, unfortunately. The act was initiated to create a list of plants that were considered undesirable compared to native plant species. Many states have created commissions to update and create these invasive species. Recently, by Presidential Order, additional species have been added to this list. Some of these species are mainstays in forage and turfgrass production. This act has large repercussions because the species on the list, in many instances, cannot be used in government contracts (i.e. highway roadside establishment). For more information see the American Seed Testing Association (ASTA) web page at http://www.amseed.com.