CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A big concern with hot and humid temperatures is that kids are spending more time outside. A lot of kids across the Carolinas spend the hot days at camps while others are just itching to get outside and play, but how can they stay safe?
Tuesday was another scorching hot day in the Queen City.
“It’s very, very hot outside,” Jaerra Grier said.
Cars were showing 100-degree temperatures. Pools and splash pads were packed with kids, and parents were watching closely to make sure no one got overheated.
“It has to be early," Grier said. "It has to be before 12 o clock so you get some cool air."
With the heat persisting throughout the week, you’ll want to limit your time in the sun and stay hydrated.
Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation holds most summer camps indoors, letting kids outside for no more than a half-hour and taking regular water breaks.
“If we do go down to the park we go for a shorter time or there will be a splash pad amenity," Gabe Hackney said.
HVAC companies are also working in overdrive, keeping systems running properly.
"It's no longer a luxury, it's something that is a necessity,” said Ricky Byrd, a service technician for Sky HVAC.
Some people’s AC units cannot keep up with the demand for relief. He spent the day going on call after call.
Most people want their homes to be cold, but running the air 24/7 can lead to a lot of issues with the system. It will only cost more money and wear out the system faster.
“You're using more energy and many of the systems are designed to keep it 20 degrees cooler inside than outside so on the hotter days that system is just running continuously,” Byrd said.
They recommend setting your thermostat at 75 to 78 degrees when you’re not home.
But some people just can’t avoid being outside. Landscapers and construction workers are given no choice, doing what they can to stay safe on their shift.
“I try to stay hydrated, stay in the shade, try to cool off as well as I can," Junior Aragon said. "Trying to pace myself as well, pacing yourself is a main goal working out here."
If you need a break from the heat, Mecklenburg County has 18 different recreational centers with daily activities.