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VIDEO: Heat Advisory in effect until Sunday

Heat Advisory in Birmingham (Added: July 30, 2010)

There is a heat advisory in effect in the Birmingham area for the weekend. (more)

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By Jon Paepcke
Published: July 30, 2010

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- There is a heat advisory in effect in the Birmingham through Sunday night.

With 97 degree heat beating down on him, Lorenzo Houser was not missing a beat Friday.

He was dancing on the corner of Green Springs Highway and Valley Avenue, earning his paycheck with the heat index at 106.

“Some days I feel like I am about to burn up, but I got used to it because I've been out here so long and for so many hours I got used to it,” Houser said.

Houser and co-worker David Jones typically dance in the sun for 6-7 hours a day.

This weekend's heat is forcing their boss to cut their sizzling hot shifts back to four hours each.

That's good news to UAB Hospital Research Dr. Henry Wang.

He says a triple digit heat index is bad enough, but the southern humidity makes it even harder for your body to cool itself.

“Sweating is the primary mechanism your body uses and if the air is humid it impairs your body's ability to let sweat evaporate and it slows down the sweating process,” Dr. Wang pointed out.

Dr. Wang claimed everybody's heat tolerance is different, but there are some pretty clear signs it's time to head for the shade.

“Any signs of confusion, lightheadedness or certainly coma should prompt people or people around that person to bring that person inside to seek care,” Dr. Wang suggested.

That's why Lorenzo Houser looks forward to the ten minute break he gets once an hour.