From the Office of Senator Norm Needleman, 7/18/19:
Heat Wave Alert!
Weather forecasters are warning that Connecticut residents will see some high heat and humidity over the next several days – but there are ways to deal with it.
Here are some tips for dealing with 90+ temperatures:
•CALL 211 TO FIND A COOLING CENTER near you. The elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk. Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If your home is not air-conditioned, you can reduce your risk for heat-related illness by spending time in a cooling center that is air-conditioned.
•Several factors affect your body’s ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other conditions related to risk include age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use.
•Drink Plenty of Fluids. During hot weather you will need to increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. If you’re exerting yourself in a hot environment, drink 16-32 ounces (two to four glasses) of cool fluids every hour.
•Replace Salt and Minerals. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body, but these are necessary for your health and must be replaced. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. However, if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
•Wear Appropriate Clothing and Sunscreen. Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) along with sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels) 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.
•Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body’s own internal thermostat will have a chance to recover.
•Monitor People at High Risk. Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids. People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature. People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat. Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
•Do Not Leave Children or Pets in Cars, even for a moment, even with the windows down!
Visit a State Park or Beach for Free!
If you don’t have access to a pool or a sprinkler, and you want to take a moment to cool off over the next week, consider visiting one of these Connecticut state parks that offers swimming.
Under the new Passport to the Parks program, all residents with a Connecticut license plate on their vehicle receives free parking at all state parks and beaches.
Connecticut offers a wide variety of swimming areas, from the ‘old swimming hole’ at a pond or lake to long stretches of sandy beach along the Long Island Sound shoreline. Whether you enjoy swimming in cool, fresh water or splashing in the saltwater waves, Connecticut’s state parks and beaches offer the perfect way to spend a hot summer day.
Look Before You Lock: Preventing Deaths in Hot Cars
As temperatures rise, it is critical to understand the health effects for children. Parents and other caregivers need to remember the dangers of heatstroke and leaving children in hot cars, because every year, dozens of children die after being left in stiflingly hot, locked vehicles.
Here are a few simple things you can do to prevent hot car fatalities this year:
•Always make a habit of looking in the vehicle—front and back—before locking the door and walking away.
•Get in touch with designated family members if a child who is regularly in your care does not arrive as expected.
•Place an item that is needed at your final destination in the back of the vehicle next to the child or place a stuffed animal in the driver’s view to indicate that a child is in the car seat.
•Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately if you see a child alone in a hot vehicle.
