On Saturday at 1:12 a.m. the National Weather Service issued an updated heat advisory valid for Saturday between noon and 9 p.m. for Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Winston, Walker, Pickens, Tuscaloosa and Greene counties.

The weather service states, “Heat index values up to 105 degrees to 107 expected.”

“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” describes the weather service.

Hot weather safety: Weather service tips for staying safe and healthy

• Stay hydrated: Keep yourself well-hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
• Seek cool shelter: Stay in an air-conditioned room.
• Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and make sure to check up on relatives and neighbors.
• Child and pet safety: Take every precaution to never leave young children and pets alone in vehicles, especially in extreme heat when car interiors can quickly become hazardous.
• Caution outdoors: If you must work or spend time outdoors, take extra precautions.
• Time your activities wisely: Whenever possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening hours when temperatures are more manageable.
• Recognize heat-related issues: Familiarize yourself with warning signs and how tp recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Dress comfortably: Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing to stay cool.

Additional recommendations for outdoor workers:

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas for outdoor workers.
• If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
• In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety directives are essential for safeguarding your well-being when facing high temperatures. Stay well-informed and take the necessary precautions to shield yourself and others from the potential hazards of extreme heat.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

LIVINGSTON, Ala. (WTOK) – The University of West Alabama is launching a new degree this fall, the Master of Dyslexia Therapy program .

According to the International Dyslexia Association 15-20% of the population is dyslexic. That’s one in every five people.

“A lot of times parents see their children come home and they are just struggling to read,” said Sara Reynolds, Coordinator of Clinical Experience. “They are struggling to really capture and decode these words.”

Dyslexia is a learning challenge that is neurological, characterized by difficulties in reading and spelling ability.

“Without that their comprehension skills are going to lack and so with this program we are able to kind of screen those and give them a really good baseline to see where those children are struggling at,” said Reynolds.

The goal of the program is to enhance the number of equipped Dyslexia Therapists ready to help students soar.

“The program is a two-year program. It is thirty hours of course work and throughout those two years you will complete 720 hours of clinical experience. It begins really after you start the program, so this first cohort will begin in Fall I,” said Reynolds. “During the Fall II, which is in about mid- October, you will begin to actually be an actual dyslexia therapist-in-training. So those people will be in the schools wherever they are already employed at or we will partner them with local schools in their area to where they will actually give those services to those students in those schools.”

Studies show that Dyslexia Therapy is working, thanks to educators willing to pave the path toward a brighter future, one student at a time.

For more information on how you can apply for the program visit: https://online.uwa.edu/online-degrees/med-master-education-degree-dyslexia-therapy/.

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