With heat indexes expected to reach nearly 110 degrees this week, residents are urged to seek shelter at cooling centers around Dane County.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from 11 am through 9 pm Tuesday, and an excessive heat watch extending through Thursday evening.
Dane County Emergency Management said on its website that public libraries across the county, as well as churches and community centers, are open for people without access to air conditioning to stay, especially during the hottest hours of the afternoon.
The map below indicates the locations of cooling centers around Dane County.
Dane County Emergency Management offers the following tips to stay safe through the heat wave.
Stay cool
Stay in air-conditioned buildings. If you need a cool place to stay, public places such as local senior and community centers, libraries, and malls are good options. Call ahead to confirm their hours. If you have an ac unit at home, you should consider calling an air conditioning repair technician like those found at https://www.performanceacoftx.com/ and schedule professional air conditioning services. Getting annual hvac services from companies like Affordable Air Solutions or https://chilltexllc.com/ will not only prevent ac breakdowns in the middle of summer, but also improve its energy efficiency. Visit a website like https://dynastyheatingandair.com/ or https://mullinsmechanical.com/ to schedule a technician to come in and inspect or service your hvac system. Hawaii residents should also seek air conditioning repair honolulu services to prepare their ac units every year before the summer season begins.
Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when it is the hottest part of the day, and avoid direct sunlight. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Lastly, never sit in a parked car or leave a child or pet in a parked car.
Stay hydrated
Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside. Wellness platforms like IVTherapyzone.com can be of help when you need to schedule a IV consultation for hydration therapy fast.
Avoid alcohol and liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
Make sure your family and pets are drinking enough water.
Stay connected
Check your local news for extreme heat warnings and safety tips.
Regularly check on friends, loved-ones, and neighbors. Call, text, drop by in person, or do a video call.
Keep an eye on your health
Stay aware about your own situation as well as what’s going on around you. If you start feeling overheated, weak, dizzy, nauseated, or have muscle cramps, you could be experiencing heat illness. Move to air conditioning, drink water, get under a fan, and put on cool washcloths. If your symptoms worsen or don’t improve, go to the emergency room. This infographic PDF explains the differences between heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Never leave people or pets in cars
If you see a parked car with a child left alone, call 9-1-1 and stay with the car. If you see a pet left alone, also call 9-1-1 and don’t leave until help arrives.
