EXTREME HEAT AND THUNDERSTORMS

(Salisbury, MD)  The National Weather Service is predicting continued high temperatures through tomorrow with the potential for high heat indices. Temperatures will be in the upper 90 degrees with the heat index reaching over 100 degrees.  As temperatures and heat indices rise, so does the risk for heat related illness.

Infants, young children, young athletes, obese persons, those older than 65 years of age, and those persons with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or a mental illness are at highest risk for heat related illness.   Family, friends, and neighbors who are at high risk will need extra help and residents should consider how they can help someone they know get to an air-conditioned place, if needed. “Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death” says Lori Brewster, Health Officer for the health department.  “If your home is not air-conditioned, go to any public facility such as the mall or library to seek relief.” 

Health Officials are offering some tips to help you and others stay healthy and safe during extreme weather:

·       Seek air-conditioned environments such as malls, libraries and public places.  Stay indoors.

·       Schedule outdoor activities before 10:00 am and after 6:00 pm.

·       Minimize direct exposure to the sun; if you must be outdoors, seek shade.

·       Stay hydrated – regularly drink water or other nonalcoholic fluids.

·       Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads.

·       Check on others: co-workers, the elderly, and those living alone. 

·       Wear loose fitting, light-colored clothes.

·       Bring pets indoors.  If they must remain outside make sure they have shade and plenty of clean,fresh water.

·       Be sure listen to local news or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.

·       Bring in all loose items from outside. Objects that are too big to bring in must be securely anchored.

Conserve energy during a summer heat wave:

·        Set air conditioning unit to "low" or your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, especially when not at home.

·        Keep your shades drawn during the day. At night, open your windows to let the cool air in.

·        Limit the use of appliances that use a lot of energy.

·        Turn off appliances when not in use. 

·        Run washing machine and dishwasher during off-peak hours. Save laundry and dishes for nights and weekends, when overall energy use is lower.

·        Change or clean the air filters in your air conditioners once a month.

In the event of a power outage, follow these basic safety precautions.

·        Follow food safety guidelines during a power outage. If the power is out for less than two hours, the food in your refrigerator and freezer will be safe to eat. But if the power is out for longer, you will want to pack your perishable, non-frozen foods in a cooler with ice. Frozen foods will be OK for about 48 hours. You can find other tips on how to protect your food before a power loss and know whether it's safe to eat afterward on CDC’s website at:http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/needtoknow.asp

·        Turn off appliances with sensitive electronics, such as stereos, televisions, and computers. Power surges that often occur when electricity is turned back on can damage appliances.

·        Try to conserve water during an outage. The pump systems that remove water and waste from your home into a sewer or septic tank are dependent on electricity and the sewage holding tanks in your home or community have limited storage capacity. So keep showers to a minimum, avoid washing clothes, and flush the toilet as little as possible while the power is out.

At this time, no cooling centers have been opened.  For local and updated cooling center information, facts on heat related illness, or additional tips on how to stay cool, visit the Wicomico County Health Department's website at www.wicomicohealth.org.