By KELSEY AINSWORTH
July 18, 2012

During the extreme heat these past few weeks, it is very important for Northeast residents to be aware of the dangers and precautions the heat can bring.

The Health Department has been monitoring emergency rooms around the Kansas City area and reporting that there have been a number of exhaustion and dehydration hospitalizations. As a result, they have issued a number of helpful tips to keep people aware of how to avoid heat-related accidents:

• Do not use a fan as your primary source of cooling. If your home does not have air conditioning, please go to a public, air-conditioned space every day for several hours.

• Check on your neighbors, friends and relatives at least twice a day (morning and night) who do not have proper air conditioning.

• Never leave children, pets or others alone in closed vehicles. Within minutes the temperature inside a car can reach over 140 degrees and may kill those inside.

• If you have to work outside or in a non air-conditioned workplace, take frequent breaks, rest in the shade or cooler environment, and drink plenty of water.

• Avoid too much sunshine, and postpone outdoor activities and games.

• Avoid extreme temperature changes, such as a taking a cold shower immediately after coming inside from hot temperatures.

• Stay indoors as much as possible during the prime heat of mid-day in an air-conditioned environment.

• Dress for the weather. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing; this type of clothing reflects heat and helps maintain normal body temperatures.

Community centers and organizations around the area are trying their best to help the underprivileged in this extreme heat.

The Salvation Army is doing their part to help people who may not have air conditioning by providing fans to individuals who cannot afford them as well as participating in a homeless outreach program. The homeless outreach provides water for the homeless around the Metro.

The Salvation Army is also helping with welfare checks to people they know do not have air conditioning. These welfare checks are telephone calls to individuals known to not have air conditioning to make sure that they are okay during heat spells.

The Bishop Sullivan Center has the program Elder Cool that is used to provide air conditioning to elderly, underprivileged people in the Kansas City area. Elder Cool goes to the homes of qualified individuals to set up a free air conditioning unit.

Bishop Sullivan also works to provide money for the bills for the air conditioning.

Also, for people to keep cool there are a number of cooling centers in the area.

The YMCA, Salvation Army, Parks and Recreation and many libraries and churches have or are serving as cooling centers for the summer.

The Health Department recommends taking advantage of these cooling centers as much as possible.

Area Cooling Centers:
Salvation Army Bellefontaine, 3013 E. Ninth St. • (816) 241-6485
Salvation Army Truman Road, 6618 E. Truman Road • (816) 483-8484
All Mid-Continent Public Library branches will serve as cooling centers. To find the one nearest you, visit www.mymcpl.org/locations.