Public Urged to Take Precautions in Record-Breaking Heat
News Release: August 15, 2002
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
As the stretch of record high temperatures and humidity continues to pound the area, the Lehigh Valley "Beat the Heat Committee" again reminds the public to take precautions.
The Beat the Heat Committee is comprised of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley; the Allentown and Bethlehem health bureaus; area Senior Citizens Centers; the Lehigh and Northampton area agencies on aging; and LANTA.
"The effects of summer's furnace-like temperatures can strike people almost immediately,” said Cordelia Miller, director of Emergency Services for the Red Cross. “High temperatures combined with poor air quality and high humidity produce hazardous conditions that could place people at risk of heat-related illness. Those especially at risk are very young children, elderly adults and people with chronic medical conditions or on certain medications.
“This week’s news about young children tragically dying because of being left alone in car seats is a tragic reminder to parents everywhere not to leave young ones unattended in a vehicle,” said Miller. “Even when out of doors, children should be monitored to be sure they are drinking plenty of fluids and are not over-heated.”
Local senior centers are prepared to stay open later to help provide residents with some respite from the heat. If a heat emergency were declared, Red Cross, along with other emergency management agencies, would open “emergency cooling shelters.”
Here are some tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this summer:
• Dress lightly - wear thin, loose, light-colored or white fabrics.
• Drink plenty of fluids - especially water - regularly and often. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.
• Eat small meals and eat more often.
• Take a cool shower or bath. Or, go for a swim at a local pool.
• Never leave a child in a car unattended.
• Try to stay in the coolest room in the house. Better yet, take a trip to an air-conditioned mall, library or some other public building.
• If you have it, use air conditioning at least intermittently to keep the temperature below 90 degrees.
• Use a fan. Fans are most helpful at night to bring in cool air. Remember to open a window to create circulation. Fans directed outward to bring cool air from the basement or fans directed at your body to increase evaporation work better than fans bringing in hot air from the outside.
• Limit your physical activity -- as well as your child's -- to the coolest times of the day - early morning or late evening.
• Establish a buddy system where you, a family member, a friend or a local volunteer check on the elderly on a daily basis during a heat wave.
• Remember that heat combined with humidity increases the likelihood of heat-related illness. An air temperature of 95 combined with 60 percent humidity equals a heat index of 114.
• Warning signs of heat stress: low energy, dizziness, nausea, headache. If you see signs of heat stress, get the person to a cool place as soon as possible.
• Warning signs of severe distress: extra fast heartbeat; confusion; diarrhea; vomiting; red, hot, dry skin; muscle cramps; chest pain; difficulty breathing. If you suspect severe distress, call for medical help immediately.
• Also, remember never to leave a pet unattended in a car. Even with the windows cracked, your pet can quickly suffer heat stroke and even die. If your pet is outdoors, make sure they have plenty of fresh, cool drinking water and shade. Check on your pet each day.
"By following these tips and using a little common sense and sympathetic caring, this summer can be a much safer one for us all," Miller said.
A "Beat The Heat - Think Prevention" tip sheet is available by calling the Allentown Health Bureau (610) 437-7598, the Bethlehem Health Bureau (610) 865-7087 or Red Cross Valley Wide Help (610) 435-7111. In addition, LANTA has posted "Beat the Heat" safety tips on its buses in order to reach a wider audience.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Lehigh, Carbon, and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 15,500 Lehigh Valley residents.
For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, visit www.redcrosslv.org.
