Take a few steps to prevent a heat-related illness, especially during extreme heat that lasts several days.
STAY COOL.
- Stay in the shade as much as possible when you are outside.
- Wear lightweight, light colored clothing.
- Take a cool shower, bath, or apply a towel with cool water to your neck to cool down.
- Keep shades and curtains in your home closed while indoors.
- During a heat spell, don’t reply only on a fan to keep you cool; go to an air conditioned place like a mall or public building to cool off at least for a few hours a day.
STAY HYDRATED.
- Remind your family to drink water throughout the day and don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.
- If working or playing outside, drink 2-4 cups of cool, nonalcoholic and caffeine-free liquids an hour to help keep your body temperature normal and avoid dehydration.
- Avoid working or playing outside during the hottest part of the day (11am to 4pm).
TUNE IN.
- Know the weather forecast in your area, check for heat alerts when planning outdoor play, work, and chores.
- Keep kids out of hot cars.
- Recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness. Dehydration starts with thirst and progresses to cold clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, and muscle cramps. Heat stroke is a life threatening emergency with symptoms of hot, dry skin, confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Cal 911 immediately if you thinning someone is having a heat stroke.