The Department of Public Health recommends the following:
Stay Hydrated: Drink 2-4 glasses of water per hour, even if you are not thirsty. Avoid sugary drinks and alcohol.
Stay Cool: If possible, stay inside with air conditioning. Fans may not cool you off when it is this hot. If you do not have air conditioning, seek out a library, R-Center or shopping mall. Even a few hours in a cool location can reduce your risk for illness.
If You Must Go Outside: Limit strenuous activity. Wear light-colored, loose clothing and stay in the shade as much as possible. Drink lots of fluids and take regular breaks from any activity.
Know the Signs: Symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, weakness, irritability, muscle cramps, and/or nausea. Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, blurred speech, loss of consciousness, hot/dry skin or excessive sweating, and/or seizures.
Know What to Do: For heat exhaustion, move the person to a cool area, apply cool washcloths and provide cool water. For heat stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Move the person to a cool area and apply cold water and ice.
To learn more about extreme heat and access the CDC’s Heat and Health Tracker, visit www.MonroeCounty.gov/Health.
