BenitoLink joins Hollister Downtown Association’s Farmers Market

This article was originally published by BenitoLink.

As the Hollister Downtown Association’s Farmer’s Market has been bringing loads of locals to downtown Hollister on Wednesday afternoons since April, BenitoLink decided to jump in on the fun. For the past month, San Benito County’s nonprofit news outlet has been operating its own booth at the corner of 7th and San Benito streets.

Those staffing the booth have often heard the question: “Why are you here?” BenitoLink strives to be the voice for all county residents, and finds that after 13 years of serving San Benito County residents with local news every day, there are still some who are unaware of the organization, which recently relocated to 615 San Benito St., Suite 201.

The short answer to the above question is: If our community can’t find us, we will find them.

That also goes for ensuring the safety of our community. Tabling at the Farmers Market has enabled BenitoLink to deliver information to residents about how to stay safe in the face of very high temperatures. This effort is partially funded by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation, located in Camarillo. The foundation wants to get safety messages about extreme heat and saving water out to communities throughout the Central Coast.

Here is some of the information we’re providing, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The San Benito County Office of Emergency Services recommends residents use its cooling centers at the San Benito County Free Library at 470 5th Street in Hollister and the San Juan Bautista Library at 801 Second Street in San Juan Bautista during extreme heat waves.

Heat Stroke

What to look for:

  • High body temperature (103°F or higher)
  • Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
  • Fast, strong pulse
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Confusion
  • Losing consciousness (passing out)

What to do:

  • Call 911 right away—heat stroke is a medical emergency
  • Move the affected person to a cooler place
  • Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath
  • Do not give the person anything to drink

Heat Exhaustion

What to look for:

  • Heavy sweating
  • Cold, pale, and clammy skin
  • Fast, weak pulse
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Muscle cramps
  • Tiredness or weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Fainting (passing out)

What to do:

  • Move to a cool place
  • Loosen your clothes
  • Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath
  • Sip water

Get medical help right away if:

  • You are throwing up
  • Your symptoms get worse
  • Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour

Heat Cramps

What to look for:

  • Heavy sweating during intense exercise
  • Muscle pain or spasms

What to do:

  • Stop physical activity and move to a cool place
  • Drink water or a sports drink
  • Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity

Get medical help right away if:

  • Cramps last longer than one hour
  • You’re on a low-sodium diet
  • You have heart problems

Sunburn

What to look for:

  • Painful, red, and warm skin
  • Blisters on the skin

What to do:

  • Stay out of the sun until your sunburn heals
  • Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath
  • Put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas
  • Do not break blisters

Heat rash

What to look for:

  • Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin, or in elbow creases)

What to do:

  • Stay in a cool, dry place
  • Keep the rash dry
  • Use powder (like baby powder) to soothe the rash

The next time you are at the Farmer’s Market, please feel free to come up, introduce yourself and meet some of the BenitoLink team. BenitoLink was created by residents just like you who wanted to be sure San Benito County would have essential local news and information. It is a nonprofit news organization created by locals to serve the community we love.

Learn more about the Ventura County Community Foundation here.