Stay Cool
Identify places in your community where you can stay cool during extreme heat.
If your home does not have air conditioning, the Community Center, Senior Activity Center, libraries, movie theaters, and indoor shopping centers are all good places to beat the heat.
Water Safety
Cooling off in a river, lake, or pool can be a fun way to beat the heat, but drowning and cold water shock can still be concerns.
Heat Related Illness
When the body can't cool itself down quickly enough, it can lead to heat exhaustion and eventually heat stroke, which can be deadly if not treated.
Heat Cramps
- SIGNS: Muscle pains or spasms in the stomach, arms, or legs.
- WHAT TO DO: Cool down the body by moving to a cooler location and removing excess clothing. Drink water or sports drinks. Seek medical help if cramps last more than one hour.
Heat Exhaustion
- SIGNS: Heavy sweating, muscle cramps, pale skin, nausea or vomiting, headache, dizziness, or passing out.
- WHAT TO DO: Go to a cool, air conditioned location and lie down. Take a cool bath or place cool cloths on the body. Loosen or remove clothing. Drink water or sports drinks. Seek medical help if symptoms last for more than one hour.
Heat Stroke
- SIGNS: No sweating, extremely high body temperature (above 103°F), red, hot and dry skin, nausea or vomiting, or passing out.
- WHAT TO DO: Call 9-1-1 immediately. Cool the body down with any method available until help arrives. Do not give the person anything to drink.
Click here for more information about heat related illness.