Staying Cool and Safe

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Aleesha Harris
7 years ago
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1 Staying Cl and Safe Summer is cming which means lts f fun in the sun! Nevertheless, the weather can get extremely ht and quickly g frm fun t dangerus. Extreme heat can be very life threatening. Learn what extreme heat is s yu can prtect yurself. Extreme Heat: Heat Strm: Generally, heat strms ccur when temperatures exceed 100 F ver a large area fr three days in a rw. Heat strms can be especially dangerus and lead t several heat related illnesses. Heat Wave: Mre than 48 hurs f high heat (90 F r higher) and high humidity (80 percent relative humidity r higher) are expected. Imprtant: Pay attentin t yur lcal weather frecast s yu can prepare fr a heat strm r a heat wave. Here is sme helpful infrmatin t stay safe and enjy the summer. Heat related Illnesses Heat related illnesses can becme serius r even deadly if unattended. Sme f the risks peple face frm t much heat expsure and nt staying cl are: Heat Cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due t heavy exertin. They usually invlve the abdminal muscles r the legs. Generally, lss f water and salt frm heavy sweating causes the cramps. Heat Exhaustin: Heat exhaustin ccurs when peple exercise heavily r wrk in a warm, humid place where bdy fluids are lst thrugh heavy sweating. With heat exhaustin, sweat des nt evaprate as it shuld and the bdy is nt cled prperly. Fr mre infrmatin please call: Cling Centers: General Infrmatin: PGE

Heat strms can be especially dangerus and lead t several heat related illnesses.

2 Signs f Heat Exhaustin: cl, mist, pale, flushed r red skin increased sweating, tiredness headaches fainting, nausea r vmiting fast, shallw breath, dizziness muscle cramps, weakness a weak, rapid pulse Warning: If left unchecked, heat exhaustin can prgress t heat strke. Heat Strke: Als knwn as sunstrke, heat strke is life threatening. The victim's temperature cntrl system, which prduces sweating t cl the bdy, stps wrking. The bdy temperature can rise s high that brain damage and death may result if the bdy is nt cled quickly. Signs f Heat Strke: very high bdy temperature (ver 105 F ) rapid pulse shallw breathing ht, red, dry skin cnfusin thrbbing headache nausea failure t sweat uncnsciusness seizures Fr mre infrmatin please call: Cling Centers: General Infrmatin: PGE

The victim's temperature cntrl system, which prduces sweating t cl the bdy, stps wrking. The bdy temperature can rise s high that brain damage and death may result if the bdy is nt cled quickly.

3 Treating a Heat related Illness Fr Heat Cramps r Heat Exhaustin: Cl the bdy slwly. Get the persn t a cler place and have him r her rest in a cmfrtable psitin. Give fluids. If the persn is fully awake and alert, give a half glass f cl water every 15 minutes. D nt let him r her drink t quickly. D nt give liquids with alchl r caffeine in them, as they can make cnditins wrse. Lsen clthing. Remve r lsen tight clthing and apply cl, wet clths such as twels r wet sheets. Call r the lcal emergency number if the persn refuses water, vmits r lses cnsciusness, r therwise appears in need f medical attentin. Fr Heat Strke: Call "911." Heat strke is life threatening and requires immediate emergency medical attentin. Cl the bdy. Then start t the cl the bdy. Mve the persn t a cler place. Wrap wet sheets arund the bdy and fan it. If yu have ice packs r cld packs, wrap them in a clth and place them n each f the victim's wrists and ankles, in the armpits and n the neck t cl the large bld vessels. Keep this prcess ging until emergency medical help arrives. Peple at high risk: Senirs Peple with jbs that require physical exertin Infants and yung children Animals and pets Peple with illnesses: Peple with medical cnditins like diabetes, respiratry prblems, heart disease, besity and alchlism are at higher risk t suffer frm extreme heat. Fr mre infrmatin please call: Cling Centers: General Infrmatin: PGE

D nt give liquids with alchl r caffeine in them, as they can make cnditins wrse. Lsen clthing. Remve r lsen tight clthing and apply cl, wet clths such as twels r wet sheets.

4 Staying Cl and Safe: G t a cl place: Cnsider ging t an air cnditined mall, library r ther public place that will be cl. Lk ut fr cling centers in yur area thrugh yur lcal emergency ffice. G t a neighbr, friend r relative s huse that has air cnditining. Stay in the shade: direct sunlight can speed up the effect the heat has n yur bdy. Stay hydrated: Keep drinking plenty f water, even if yu're nt thirsty. Yur bdy needs mre fluids than usual when it s very ht. Avid caffeine r alchl. Take shwers: A cl shwer r bath is a great way t stay cl and much mre effective than using an electric fan. Limit physical activity: Take many breaks during the day. D utdr activities in the mrning hurs r evening hurs t avid being in the afternn heat. Wear lse fitting, lightweight clthing: If yu are utside, dn't frget t wear a wide brimmed hat r carry an umbrella t prtect yur head and neck. Wear sunscreen: Prtect yur skin and reduce the risk f sunburn. Sunburn affects yur bdy's ability t cl itself. Plan ahead: Check the weather frecast t knw the temperatures. Keep a phne: Make sure yu have a cell phne r hard wired, single line telephne. Crdless phnes will nt wrk withut electricity. Keep an emergency cntact list: Keep a list f emergency phne numbers. Have a buddy system: Have smene be a buddy where yu, a family member, a friend r a lcal vlunteer check in n the elderly r frail during a heat wave. Check up n lved nes: Call yur neighbrs, friends r relatives if yu believe they might be susceptible t heat expsure. Have back up pwer: If a member f yur husehld depends n life supprt r needs ther medical equipment, have an emergency plan in place, including back up pwer supply. If yu are senir r have an illness, yu may be eligible fr PG&E s Medical Baseline Prgram fr discunted electric rates and Third party Ntificatin Prgram fr rtating utage alerts. G t Get help: Sudden nset f dizziness, rapid heartbeat, nausea, headache, chest pain, mental changes r breathing prblems are all warning signs that yu shuld seek immediate attentin. Fr mre infrmatin please call: Cling Centers: General Infrmatin: PGE

Stay hydrated: Keep drinking plenty f water, even if yu're nt thirsty. Yur bdy needs mre fluids than usual when it s very ht. Avid caffeine r alchl.

5 Saving Energy: When it gets ht, a lt f energy is used t keep cl. Here are sme useful ways t stay cl and still save energy and save n yur bill. Keep yur thermstat at 78 F when yu are hme and at 85 F when yu leave yur hme Keep many bttles f water in the fridge s that yu always have a cl refreshment Switch ff unnecessary lights Avid using appliances during the peak heat f the day Use yur micrwave t heat fd instead yur f the ven Reset yur pl pump t run during ff peak hurs f the day Use energy efficient prducts. PG&E prvides give yu mney back thrugh rebates ( fr selected items. Als, check t see if yu qualify fr Energy Partners ( prviding energy efficient prducts fr ur custmers wh need it mst. Fr mre infrmatin please call: Cling Centers: General Infrmatin: PGE

appliances during the peak heat f the day Use yur micrwave t heat fd instead yur f the ven Reset yur pl pump t run during ff peak hurs f the day Use energy efficient prducts.

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SUPPORT FOR ALBERTANS AFFECTED BY WILDFIRE Help in a stressful time. There are resurces available t help yu and yur lved nes cpe with stress in difficult times. We re here t help. It s nrmal t feel stress.