"A lot of times, if it's not directly heat-related, it brings on other factors such as difficulty of breathing or heart problems. The heat indirectly causes other issues," he said. "Hopefully, people will heed the advice that's been in the media.
Pursell said Del City firefighters are taking their own advice.
"Every fire truck we have has extra bottled water on it. Plus, we have a reserve rescue truck that has more water, fans and even a pop-up tent where our guys can rehab while they're working at a scene. If we have to, we'll call in mutual aid so our guys can rotate in and out. We're trying to be proactive with this heat," he said.
Local businesses affected
At Spencer Heat and Air, owner John Shepard braces for another blistering boon to his business. Shepard's heating and cooling business has seen 44 summers, some worse than others. When compared to 2011, fewer new AC units have been sold this year.
"It's been a pretty mild summer so far," Shepard said, "By this time last year, we'd already had 30 days of 100-degree weather."
With the recent climbing temperatures in June, business is starting to pick up.
"The store's going crazy right now," Shepard said, "If the weather holds, we'll be doing all we can do."
Shepard wanted to advise everyone to use caution when having an air conditioning unit installed.
"We've sent several people out to fix units that weren't installed correctly," Shepard said, "Make sure you use a licensed and bonded company when dealing with heat and air. Some people try to save a little money, but it ends up costing them more."
The summer of 2011 broke records in Oklahoma with 69 days above the 100-degree mark.
"Last summer was too hot for the heat and air business," Shepard said, "It was one of our best-selling years, but it was too hot for anyone to do anything."
Because of government incentives, the summer of 2010 was actually a more profitable year than 2011. "We were given incentives to sell the energy-efficient models," Shepard said, "We sold more units then."
Record heat can help boost sales, but the summer of 2011 proved that in the heat and air business, it was possible to have too much of a good thing.
Community service
For OG&E Energy Corporation, the summer months provide a time to give back. John Koonz, OG&E community relations coordinator, shared some insights on the programs OG&E offers to the community.
"This year, OG&E donated 1,100 fans to the Salvation Army and other charities," Koonz said, "They'll be distributed to the poor and elderly, to help them stay cool this summer."
One program that saw success last year was the Cool Zone program. Working with the Red Cross, as well as many other local groups, OG&E compiled a list of all the local areas where people can go to cool off when it gets too hot. Those places include libraries, shopping centers and senior citizen centers. The Cool Zone list can be found on the company's website at oge.com, under the "Community Programs" header.
Another aspect of OG&E's community service includes senior citizens. OG&E representatives periodically speak at retirement homes about ways for seniors to stay safe during the hot summer months.
"An elderly person with AC in their home may not use it, because they fear the cost," Koonz said, "You don't want to be thrifty when it comes to your health."
It costs more to generate and use electricity during peak periods of high customer demand. Other factors, like weather conditions and the time of year, can also drive prices higher. OG&E offers consumers the option to join the Smart Hours plan, where they can lower their electricity bill by only using electronic devices during off peak hours. During the summer, peak hours are from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
"It's much cheaper after peak hours," Koonz said, "It also keeps us from having brown outs."
Koonz recognizes the need for heat and air during the summer months.
"OG&E offers credit extensions for those who have difficulty paying," Koonz said, "We don't cut off electricity if it's 90 degrees outside."
Koonz recommended people drink plenty of water, stay out of the sun and, cover your head when going out and check on elderly neighbors and pets during periods of extreme heat.
