Here's a list of tips to keep safe and stay cool during the heat spell:
Drink lots of fluids
• Drink water throughout the day
• Avoid caffeinated drinks like soda and tea, and alcohol (they can dehydrate you)
Stay cool inside
• Use a fan with the windows open or an air conditioner
• Visit places like the library, shopping centers, movie theaters or senior centers that have air conditioning
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• Shower or bathe in water that is near skin temperature.
Stay cool outside
• Avoid being outside during the hottest times of the day (noon to 6 p.m.)
• Try to rest in the shade to keep cool
• Wear sunscreen, lightweight, loose‐fitting clothing, sunglasses and a wide‐brimmed hat or visor
• Take an umbrella for shade
• Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and stroke
Watch out for others
• Older people and those with pre‐existing medical conditions are at greater risk for health problems
• Visit older friends, relatives and neighbors – especially those you know have medical problems – to make sure that air conditioners or fans are working and homes are adequately ventilated
• Seniors should seek help if they experience lightheadedness, heat cramps, heavy sweating, thirst, faintness, confusion or nausea.
• Never leave seniors, children or pets alone in a car
• Be sure pets have plenty of cool water to drink, and are kept out of the sun (see more tips below)
Bob McGovern, File/PhillyVoiceMike Breslin of Northeast Philadelphia jackhammers a sidewalk at Fourth Street and Girard Avenue in Olde Kensington during a 2015 heat wave.
Working in the heat
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminds employers to protect workers from heat illness. If a job requires working long hours outdoors, employers should take necessary precautions to keep workers safe – providing frequent water breaks, shaded areas and enough time to rest.
PCA Heatline
The nonprofit Philadelphia Corporation for Aging's Heatline is an extended version of its Helpline that provides additional help for seniors feeling the heat.
When activated, the Philadelphia Department of Health provides nurses who answer questions about the heat and how to detect signs of heat stress. Mobile teams are ready to respond to situations needing intervention. The Heatline operates from 8:30 a.m. to midnight and on weekends.
Cooling centers
PHILADELPHIA
The Free Library locations listed below will be open for people to escape the heat. Residents can visit these locations to rest in an air‐conditioned space with access to books, computers and wireless internet.
Branches may extend their hours, and residents should be sure to call the cooling centers beforehand to make sure they are open.
• Charles L. Durham, 3320 Haverford Ave. 215-685‐7436
• Falls of Schuylkill, 3501 Midvale Ave. 215-685‐2093
• Frankford, 4634 Frankford Ave. 215-685‐1473
• Haddington, 446 North 65th St. 215-685‐1970
• Independence, 18 South 7th St. 215-685‐1633
• Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional, 68 West Chelten Ave. 215-685‐2150
• Edward “Bud” Duble Center, 33 Cooper Folly Road, Winslow Twp. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 856-767-5824
• Woodlynne Municipal Bldg., 200 Cooper Ave. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 856-962-8300
Free fans in Camden County
During severe heat waves, the Camden County Freeholder Board often distributes free fans to residents age 60 and older with an income of $25,000 or less. To request a fan or get information, call the Camden County Division of Senior Services at (856) 858-3220.
Keeping pets safe
PETA offers the following suggestions for safeguarding animals during hot weather:
• Keep dogs indoors: Unlike humans, dogs can only sweat through their footpads and cool themselves by panting. Soaring temperatures can cause heat stress, injury, or death.
• Provide water and shade: When outside, animals must have access to fresh water and ample shade, and the shifting sun needs to be taken into account. Even brief periods of direct exposure to the sun can have life-threatening consequences.
• Walk — don't run: In very hot, humid weather, never exercise dogs by biking and making them run alongside you or by running them while you jog. Dogs will collapse before giving up, at which point, it may be too late to save them.
• Avoid hot cars: Never leave an animal in a parked car in warm weather, even for short periods with the windows partially rolled down. Dogs trapped inside hot cars can succumb to heatstroke within minutes – even if a car isn't parked in direct sunlight.
• Stay alert and save a life: Keep an eye on all outdoor animals. Make sure that they have adequate water and shelter. If you see an animal in distress, provide him or her with water for immediate relief and contact humane authorities right away.
• Avoid hot pavement: When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, asphalt temperatures can reach 140 degrees, causing pain, burns, permanent damage, and scarring on dogs' paws after just a few minutes of contact. Walk on grass when possible, and avoid walking in the middle of the day.
• Use a cooling vest or mat: Dog cooling equipment, such as wearable vests or bed mats, come in a range of materials and prices and help prevent overheating. Simply freeze or soak the items in cold water to keep dogs comfortable while on a walk or lounging. Placing cold water bottles in a dog's bed also works.
Sources: Philadelphia Department of Public Health; Camden County Freeholders; PETA
