With soaring temperatures, keeping your loved ones and yourself safe and cool should be your top priority.
Remember: This is NOT just about comfort: Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be deadly.
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water or non-alcoholic beverages. Encourage your children and elderly friends and family members to drink often, even if they’re not thirsty.
The best trick: Give everyone in the family two water bottles. Have one for sipping and one in the freezer. When the one in the freezer gets slushy, pull it out for sipping. Rotate your water bottles throughout the day and night. (Do not fill the bottles completely before putting them in the freezer.)
Limit Outdoor Time
Avoid being outdoors in the sunshine for long periods of time. This isn’t the time to work on your tan! Use a high SPF (sun protection factor) sunscreen. Restrict any outdoor activities to mornings and evenings. Some medications increase sensitivity to heat and sun (check with your physician).
Dress for the Heat
Wear lightweight and light-colored clothing.
Home Tricks
Cover windows that face the morning or afternoon sun. If your home is hot, visit a mall, movie theater or other cool, public facility.
Free Air Conditioning
Local cities have designated community centers as cool spots for the public. Check the website of your town. For instance, the Peter Kirk Center and North Kirkland Community Center in Kirkland both have extended hours for the week. Redmond Senior Center welcomes anyone – not just seniors – who need to cool down.
Be Neighborly
Check on your elderly neighbors or neighbors with mobility challenges.
Car Safety
Do not leave infants, children, elderly people, or pets in a parked car. Even in the shade with the window rolled down, the temperatures can rapidly rise to more than 100 degrees in a vehicle.
When to Ask for Help
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and dizziness. Move the victim to a cooler spot, let them rest and encourage them to drink a cool beverage. Seek medical attention if they don’t feel better in 30 minutes.
Heat stroke symptoms include an extremely high body temperature; red, hot and dry skin; rapid and strong pulse; nausea, confusion and unconsciousness. Seek medical help immediately.
If you have any questions or concerns, call the Evergreen Healthline at 425.899.3000. If this is a life threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.