Who's at risk?
- Adults over 65
- Infants and children under 4
- People who have a mental illness
- People who are physically ill or have existing medical conditions (like heart disease or high blood pressure)
- People without access to air conditioning
What you can do?
Stay coolKeep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose fitting clothing.
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If you don't have air conditioning in your home, try going to a shopping mall, library, or call your local health department to see if there are any cooling centers in your area.
- Take cool showers or baths.
- Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device. When the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness.
- NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
Stay hydratedBecause your body loses fluids through sweat, you can become dehydrated during times of extreme heat.
- Drink more water than usual.
- Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids.
- Drink two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.
- Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
- Remind others to drink enough water.
Stay InformedStay updated on local weather forecasts so you can plan activities safely when it’s hot outside.
- Check local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips.
- Learn the symptoms of heat illness, like heat stroke and heat exhaustion.