Ever heard of the term heat index? Turn on the television, listen to the radio and the term is bound to pop up during summertime in Selma.

According to WAKA television meteorologist Chris Bailey, heat index is a term that takes into account not only the actual temperature but also the humidity. It also relates to how hot a human being actually feels during the day, as opposed to the actual temperature.

Bailey said that when the temperature and the humidity are high, the heat index is higher, because when the humidity is high, a person’s sweat does not evaporate as easily.

“When sweat evaporates, it tends to cool the body off,” Bailey said. “When the humidity is high, however, the sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily,” making the body temperature higher. Thus, said Bailey, this accounts for a higher heat index value.

Bailey said that over the next week, he expected Dallas County to have a heat index hovering around the mid 90s during the day and the mid 70s during nighttime.

“If there is rain over the next few days, that will cool temperatures in the area considerably,” said Bailey. “Without the rain, however, we can expect the heat index to rise to 100” or above.

On a sizzling work day, workers who work outside are often faced with the daunting task of dealing with the summer heat.

Jackie Hughey, carrier supervisor for the Selma Post Office, and Tommy Smith, director of public works in Selma, said they both ask their workers to take necessary precautions.

“The workers I have usually take breaks frequently,” Smith said. “When it gets hot, many of them go and sit under a shady tree and they also drink plenty of liquids. Really, though, I leave it to their discretion.”

Hughey said postal workers are trained about how to handle the hot weather well in advance.

“We ask them to drink plenty of fluids, and to use wet towels on their back and neck to stay cool,” Hughey said. “When the humidity is high, that’s when it can get really bad. We just ask them to take the necessary precautions” in order to protect themselves.