|
 |
Red Cross
offers safety tips for the extreme heat
Extreme heat kills more than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes &
lightning combined
Miami Valley OH (July 21, 2016) — Heat-related incidents and illness
are preventable, yet annually many people succumb to extreme heat.
Extreme heat, in fact, kills more people each year than hurricanes,
floods, tornadoes and lightning combined.
“People don’t often think about the dangers of extreme heat, but it can
be very dangerous and even deadly,” says Lynne Gump, Executive Director
of the Northern Miami Valley Ohio Chapter of the American Red Cross.
“The Red Cross emphasizes the importance of being prepared for many
types of emergencies—tornadoes, home fires, floods—and the kind of heat
that we’re expecting this weekend is no different. You should know what
to do before and during a heat emergency. It can literally mean the
difference between life and death.”
Because heat-related deaths are preventable, people need to be aware of
who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a
heat-related illness or death. Here are a few tips on how to beat the
heat and stay safe:
• If you don’t have to be outside in the heat, then
don’t go outside. Stay inside. Your neighbors will forgive you if you
don’t cut your grass when it’s this hot.
• If you don’t have air conditioning, visit places
that do—malls, libraries, bookstores, movie theaters. Make a day of it.
• If you have to work outside, slow down and rest
frequently. No one is going to get mad at you for not going fast enough
in this heat.
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Tight-fitting
clothing holds the heat in and doesn’t allow it to escape.
• Drink a lot of water, even if you’re not thirsty.
It’s easy to get dehydrated without noticing when it gets this hot.
• Check in on your neighbors, especially if they’re
older, disabled or don’t have access to air conditioning.
• Don’t forget your pets. If they’re outdoor pets,
bring them indoors where it’s cooler for the weekend. If not, check on
them frequently and make sure they have plenty of water and a shady
place to rest.
• Be prepared for power outages. This kind of heat
often stresses the power grid and leads to outages. If you don’t have
an emergency disaster kit, now is a good time to put one together. Be
prepared to survive three days without electricity. Here are 30 items
you should have ready to go in the event of a disaster.
The Red Cross also offers two apps to provide information about heat
safety. The Red Cross Emergency App provides information on 17
different types of emergencies, including what to do before and during
heat emergencies. It also lists symptoms of heat-related illnesses and
what to do if someone has them. The Red Cross Pet first Aid App has
tips for pet owners on how to keep animals safe in extreme conditions.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact our
office, website or Facebook page.
|
|
|
|
