The summer heat is on us already, it seems, with heat indices in the 105-to-109 mark. In other words, the temperatures might be 99 to 100 degrees, but when combined with the amount of humidity in the air, the outside feels like the 105 range.

For young children and the elderly, whose bodies are more sensitive to extremes in heat and cold, a long afternoon’s exposure to the high heat indices could mean heat stroke and possibly death.

It’s important for parents to remember their children’s need to take it a little easier by packing plenty of cold water and finding places to dash into to provide a little relief.

Too often this time of year, we see news stories that a parent or grandparent stowed a child in the back seat of a car, asleep, left the window rolled up and locked the doors. And the children die.

And, for our elderly, if you know of someone who lives alone, check on them. Many times these folks live on fixed incomes and do not have air conditioners or the money to afford the electricity to keep their houses cooled sufficiently.

Take this person somewhere during the heat of the afternoon, where they’ll be cooler, if no heat shelter is open nearby.

It is the duty of all of us to take care of those who might have difficulty when taking care of themselves.