Cooling Centers Open in Harford County as Heat Wave Continues

From Harford County government:

With the heat index expected to rise above 100 degrees again on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, the Harford County Department of Community Services will again be making several activity centers available as cooling stations for Harford County residents in need of relief from the heat.

Citizens are welcome to enter the following senior centers from 9:00 AM until 3:30PM on Wednesday, July 7, 2010:

– Aberdeen Senior Activity Center, 7 Franklin Street, Aberdeen
– Edgewood Senior Activity Center, 1000 Gateway Drive, Edgewood
– Highland Senior Activity Center, 708 Highland Road, Street.

Citizens are also welcome to enter the following centers operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 7, 2010:

– Havre de Grace Activities Center, 351 Lewis Lane, Havre de Grace
– McFaul Activities Center, 525 W. MacPhail Road, Bel Air

These hours and locations are in effect for Wednesday, July 7, 2010 only. Decisions regarding the opening of cooling centers on future dates during this heat wave will be made on a day-to-day basis. For more information, call the Department of Community Services at 410-638-3389.

Health Officer Susan Kelly reminds individuals of all ages to be cautious when vigorously working or playing outdoors or during prolonged exposure to hot and humid weather conditions.

Ms. Kelly states, “Prolonged heat exposure can result in recreational as well as occupational illnesses and injuries. Persons who work or recreate outside in direct exposure to the sun, or indoors in excessive heat for any extended period of time must be particularly mindful of the risks and be exceptionally careful.” She also encourages everyone to remember to pay attention to family members, co-workers, friends, and neighbors. “Make sure they are taking the necessary precautions, especially if they are young, elderly, or ill.”

Heat illness takes many forms, including heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps, heat exhaustion or the most serious, heat stroke. Heat stroke, is an advanced form of heat stress that occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and unable to control its temperature. Someone with a body temperature above 104 degrees is likely suffering from heat stroke and may have symptoms of confusion, combativeness, strong rapid pulse, lack of sweating, dry flushed skin, faintness, staggering, possible delirium or coma. Seek immediate medical attention for a person with any of these symptoms, especially an older adult.

The risk for heat illness is a combination of the outside temperature along with the general health and lifestyle of the individual. Health-related factors that may increase risk include:

– The inability to perspire, caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart and blood pressure drugs
– Taking several drugs for various conditions. It is important, however, to continue to take prescribed medication and discuss possible problems with a physician.
– Being substantially overweight or underweight
– Drinking alcoholic beverages
– Being dehydrated
– Age-related changes to the skin such as poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands
– Heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever
– High blood pressure or other conditions that require changes in diet. For example, people on salt-restricted diets may be at an increased risk. However, salt pills should not be used without first consulting a doctor.

Lifestyle factors that also can increase risk include extremely hot living accommodations, lack of transportation, overdressing, visiting overcrowded places and not understanding how to respond to changing weather conditions.

Individuals at special risk should stay indoors on particularly hot and humid days, especially when there is an air pollution alert in effect. People without fans or air conditioners should go to places such as shopping malls, movie theaters, libraries or cooling centers.

For more information on heat-related illness, visit the National Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov or call the Harford County Health Department at 410-612-1781. For a free copy of the NIA’s Age Page on hyperthermia in English or in Spanish, contact the NIA Information Center at 1-800-222-2225 or go to http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/hyperther.asp or www.niapublications.org/agepages/hyperther-sp.asp for the Spanish-language version.