Staying cool and safe during the heat

As the summer heat settles in over western Washington, King County Health Department and Woodinville Fire & Rescue urge all residents to observe the following safety standards.

Stay cool:

  • Spend more time in air conditioned places. If you don’t have air conditioning, consider visiting a mall, movie theater or other cool public places.
  • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun.
  • Dress in lightweight clothing.
  • Check up on your elderly neighbors and relatives and encourage them to take these precautions, too.

Drink liquids:

  • Drink plenty of water. Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol and large amounts of sugar because they can actually de-hydrate your body.
  • Have a beverage with you as much as possible, and sip or drink frequently. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.

If you go outside:

  • Limit the time you’re in direct sunlight.
  • Do not leave infants, children, people with mobility challenges and pets in a parked car, even with the window rolled down.
  • Avoid or reduce doing activities that are tiring, or take a lot of energy.
  • Do outdoor activities in the cooler morning and evening hours.
  • Avoid sunburn. Use a sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (sun protection factor) rating.

More tips in English, Spanish, Chinese Vietnamese, Russian and Korean are available on our Beat the Heat webpage at http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/beattheheat.aspx

Water safety

Some people turn to local rivers to cool off, but drowning is a real concern. Please use caution and wear a personal flotation device (PFD) on the water. Find deals on affordable lifejackets at http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/injury/water/pfd.aspx And if you want to swim, choose a safer location by visiting a local pool or lifeguarded beach instead.

SOURCE: Woodinville Fire & Rescue (Washington State)