Your health during times of extreme heat

Ten things you can do to protect your health during times of extreme heat:
- Never leave children, pets or others alone in closed vehicles: within minutes, the temperature inside a car can reach over 140 degrees and this can kill within minutes.
- Avoid too much sunshine, and postpone outdoor activities and games.
- Avoid extreme temperature changes, such as a taking a cool shower immediately after coming inside from hot temperatures.
- Stay indoors as much as possible.
- If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a public building every day for several hours.
- Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, to reduce heat and save money.
- Conserve electricity not needed to keep you cool.
- If you have to work outside, take frequent breaks, rest in the shade, and drink plenty of water.
- Dress for the weather: wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing;lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and helps maintain normal body temperature. If you have to be outside, cover as much skin as possible to avoid sunburn. Protect your face and head with a wide-brimmed hat.
- Check on your neighbors, friends and relatives at least twice a day (morning and night).


For more information about heat-related illnesses, visit the CDC’s Web page about extreme heat http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ExtremeHeat/.

Heat information also can be found on the Health Department's Web page (www.kcmo.org/health). For general information on signs and symptoms of heat related illness, call the 3-1-1 Action Center at 311 or 816-513-1313. For heat information and community resources, call the Health Department's community partner United Way 2-1-1, at 211 or 816-474-5112.