Summer Heat Health Tips

• Use air conditioning or go to a cooling center or another cool place, like a store or mall.
• Set air conditioning at 78 degrees or low cool to stay comfortable and conserve energy.
• Drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated liquids, even if you are not thirsty.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
• Avoid sun and strenuous outdoor activity between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
• Use shades or awnings.
• Take cool baths or showers.
• Wear sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.

Heat exhaustion occurs when body fluids are lost.

Symptoms include:

• Sweating
• Pale and clammy skin
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Shallow breaths
• Weak pulse

If you are organizing a public event, be sure to provide an area with air conditioning or shade, where participants can take a break from the heat to cool off. It is also suggested that you provide water for participants. 

If water or cool shelters are unavailable, it may be advisable to consider cancelling your event. Your safety and your participants' safety are paramount. Understand and seek medical attention if you see the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

The National Weather Service issues a heat advisory when the heat index is expected to reach at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit in New York City but less than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, or when nighttime lows are expected to remain above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The heat index is a number in degrees Fahrenheit that indicates how hot it feels when relative humidity is added to the actual air temperature. Exposure to direct sunlight can increase the heat index by 15 degrees.

Summer heat can mean an increase in electricity use which not only means higher electricity bills but also risk of outages and loss of air-conditioning. Here are tips to conserve energy on the hottest days.

• Set the air conditioner thermostat no lower than 78 degrees
• Only use an air conditioner when home. To cool a room before arriving home, set a timer to have it switch on no more than one-half hour before arrival
• Turn off all non-essential appliances
• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms
• Only use appliances that have heavy electrical loads (dishwashers, washers, dryers) when they are full, early in the morning or very late at night