The Kent County Office of Emergency Services has issued the following:
As you have all been seeing on the news, a significant heat wave event is expected to occur this weekend. At this time no advisories or warnings have been issued for our area; however between Friday, June 29th and Sunday, July 1st the heat index values are believed to take us between 105-110 degrees and possibly higher.
The Public Libraries will be open at the following times this weekend:
Chestertown: Friday- 9am to 5pm; Saturday- 9am to 3 pm; Sunday- Closed
Friday: Summer Film Festival “Becket” 2pm to 4:28pm; Dream Big with Legos 3pm to 5pm
Rock Hall: Friday- 9am to 3pm; Saturday 9am to 1pm; Sunday- Closed
Galena: Friday- 10am to 5pm; Saturday- 10am to 2pm; Sunday- Closed
The Kent County Community Center Building and Pool have the following times this weekend:
Friday: Building- 8:30am to 6pm; Pool- 12noon to 7pm
Saturday: Building- 8:30am to 6pm; Pool- 12noon to 7pm
Sunday: Building- Closed; Pool- 12noon to 7pm
Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness
The best defense is prevention. Here are some prevention tips:
• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on:
o Infants and young children
o People aged 65 or older
o People who have a mental illness
o Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure
• Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
If you must be out in the heat:
• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first “tip” (above), too.
• Try to rest often in shady areas.
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).
This information provided by NCEH’s Health Studies Branch (www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb).
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