Beat the Heat: Cool Strategies
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Date Posted: Monday, July 20, 2015
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Date Posted: Monday, July 20, 2015
DOVER – Delaware is in the midst of a classic summer heat wave with soaring temperatures and long, humid days. Very hot weather can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and severe respiratory conditions, which can be fatal. Extreme heat especially endangers seniors, young children, people with disabilities, and individuals with breathing conditions and other chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
The Division of Public Health recommends that every household be prepared for soaring summer temperatures. Keep air conditioners on and use electric fans. Drink lots of water and carry bottled water when running errands or spending time outside. Check in regularly with vulnerable family members and neighbors. In the event of power outages, listen to news reports of the location of community ‘“cooling centers”’ (often public libraries or churches) which may be opened to help beat the heat when the power goes down.
Delaware 2-1-1 connects Delawareans with critical services and supports. By dialing 2-1-1, eligible callers can receive referrals to summer cooling and crisis assistance and the City of Wilmington’s Free Electric Fan Program for seniors.
Tips to prevent heat illness:
Heed the following heat danger warning signs and take suggested actions:
A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit delawarerelay.com.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages.
###
Rita Landgraf, Secretary
Emily Knearl, DPH Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-354-2852
Email: emily.knearl@delaware.gov
Delaware Health and Social Services – Division of Public Health
Related Topics: extreme heat, heat stroke
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Date Posted: Monday, July 20, 2015
DOVER – Delaware is in the midst of a classic summer heat wave with soaring temperatures and long, humid days. Very hot weather can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and severe respiratory conditions, which can be fatal. Extreme heat especially endangers seniors, young children, people with disabilities, and individuals with breathing conditions and other chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
The Division of Public Health recommends that every household be prepared for soaring summer temperatures. Keep air conditioners on and use electric fans. Drink lots of water and carry bottled water when running errands or spending time outside. Check in regularly with vulnerable family members and neighbors. In the event of power outages, listen to news reports of the location of community ‘“cooling centers”’ (often public libraries or churches) which may be opened to help beat the heat when the power goes down.
Delaware 2-1-1 connects Delawareans with critical services and supports. By dialing 2-1-1, eligible callers can receive referrals to summer cooling and crisis assistance and the City of Wilmington’s Free Electric Fan Program for seniors.
Tips to prevent heat illness:
Heed the following heat danger warning signs and take suggested actions:
A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit delawarerelay.com.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages.
###
Rita Landgraf, Secretary
Emily Knearl, DPH Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-354-2852
Email: emily.knearl@delaware.gov
Delaware Health and Social Services – Division of Public Health
Related Topics: extreme heat, heat stroke
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.