Record-breaking heat expected

John Dreiling pushes a tiny lawn mower through a tangled strip of grass. Every few minutes, the mower stalls, Dreiling yanks the cord and then, tilting the mower up, hits the high grass full-on with the blades.

It's about 85 degrees as Dreiling works Monday near the corner of William Street and Saliman Road. But with temperatures expected to break 100 on Thursday, it's only going to get hotter.

"For us, it's really easy to get heat stoke," said Dreiling, 17, an employee with Cutting Edge Lawn and Landscape. "That's why we wear these big-rimmed hats."

Besides that, Dreiling regularly drinks water and takes breaks in the shade. Temperatures in the 100s and high 90s takes a while to get used to, though, he said.

And the highs Thursday and Friday could be warm enough to set records, according to the National Weather Service. It hit 97 on July 5 in 1970 and the weather service predicts 102 this Thursday. For July 6, the high set in 2004 was 95, and the service says it will be 98 this Friday.

Dreiling said he's never had heat stroke while he worked, but did have an accident with a riding lawn mower that he thinks the heat contributed to. Around the side of his mouth, he has scratches and thin scars.

"It got under a pine tree and it just gets away from you," Dreiling said. "A tree tore my muscles and arteries."

Ismael Cadera, who works for Canyon Creek Construction, said he's been working construction for several years and knows how to get through a hot July.

"You got to stop and take a break and drink some water."

Scott McGuire, a spokesman for the National Weather Service's office in Reno, said people should follow the usual precautions: drink water, stay out of the sun and be careful.

"It's not going to break all-time records ... but it's going to be a pretty good break."

Pet owners should also regularly check that their animals have enough water, he said.

While people do need to be careful this week, David Tillitt, an emergency room doctor at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, said actual heat stroke is rare. More common is heat exhaustion, feeling lethargic, confused and possibly "a little goofy."

Tillitt described heat stroke as much more dangerous, because the brain looses the ability to regulate temperature.

• Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

Carson City

Thursday, July 5

Record: 97 (1970)

Forecast: 102

Friday, July 6

Record: 95 (2004)

Forecast: 98

Virginia City

Thursday, July 5

Record: 94 (1991)

Forecast: 96

Friday, July 6

Record: 92 (1989)

Forecast: 98

Fallon

Thursday, July 5

Record: 100 (1991)

Forecast: 105

Friday, July 6

Record: 101(1968)

Forecast: 105

Reno

Thursday, July 5

Record: 100 (1970)

Forecast: 105

Friday, July 6

Record: 100 (1945, 2004)

Forecast: 103

Check for updates with the National Weather Service at:

www.wrh.noaa.gov/rev

Source: National Weather Service