TOO HOT: TAKE PRECAUTIONS — say Emergency Management Officials.
HEALTH OFFICIALS SUGGEST YOU TAKE TAKE PRECAUTIONS FROM THE SWELTERING HEAT…
Just about everyone is complaining about the heat and humidity, but it’s a serious problem according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Passing out, vomiting, even heat-stroke and death are possible when the weather brings extremely hot temperatures.
Iroquois County ESDA, Red Cross, and Volunteer Churches and Community Centers have made cooling centers available for those people needing relief from the humidity.
Kelly Jakubek, Public Health spokeswoman, says prevention is the best way to handle the heat. These warnings usually go out later in the summer, but the heat and humidity showed up early. The tips are:
* Drink more of fluids, regardless of your activity level. Do not wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Make an extra effort to drink a minimum of six eight-ounce glasses of cool fluids daily. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses of cool fluids each hour. Parents should be sure young children get sufficient fluids. If you are on a special fluid-restricted diet or if you take diuretics, ask your physician about fluid intake during hot weather.
* Avoid liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar. They cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps.
* Take cool showers, baths or sponge baths, which can reduce body temperatures. In addition, wet clothing has a cooling effect.
* Protect your body. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. When spending time outdoors, avoid direct sunlight, wear a hat and use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15 to protect yourself against sunburn.
* Never leave anyone, including pets, alone in a closed, parked vehicle.
* Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place.
* Seek out the nearest facility that is air conditioned, such as a cooling shelter, a senior citizen center, a church, a mall, the local YMCA or a center designated by your community. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Fans alone will not effectively cool an overheated person when air temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you must go outside:
* Slow down and avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the early morning or late evening hours when it is cooler.
* Take regular breaks when engaged in physical activity on warm days. Try to rest often in shady or cool areas. If you recognize that you, or someone else, are showing signs of a heat-related illness, stop activity and find a cool place.
Anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, but some people are at greater risk. Check regularly on:
* Infants and young children
* People aged 65 or older
* People who have mental illness
* Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure.
–courtesy: Iroquois County ESDA 6-26-09
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