Temperatures Go Up but Rebuilding Effort Doesn't Slow Down

June 22, 2007

Teresa Kasper is volunteering her time but says she feels responsible for trying to keep people healthy in Greensburg. She stops to offer water and Powerade to workers she sees while driving through town.

"They've gotten used to seeing the green gator come by and they'll start waving you down or they'll say no we're good."

And as it gets hotter, she sees volunteers a little more eager for a bottle of water or a Powerade. Even groups that thought they had a handle on the heat.

Marci Penner planned her groups effort and also planned for the weather. "We all prepared for heat so we had sunscreen, mosquito spray. We were prepared for a very hot day."

And some of that preparation must have worked because Penner says a little heat can't keep them from trying to help Greensburg rebuild. "It's not the heat or the rain or the wind...it's a day we can get together...let's go and let's do it."

A great attitude, but doctors here at the Kiowa County Hospital just hope it doesn't have eager volunteers overdoing it in near triple digit heat.

Dr. Nizar Kibar advises, "Take some rest periods and avoid continuous exposure to the sun or the heat for long periods of time."

And Teresa has her own tricks for making sure people take those breaks. "They'll take the water and stuff but if you start up a conversation with them then you know they're gonna take a break and get themselves reoriented and make sure they do take a break."

A watchful eye for the helful hand.

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