National Weather Service Issues Heat Advisory for Ross County
Ross County is under a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service for Thursday, August 12. The Ross County Health District asks that all Ross countians be aware of the risks and use the recommendations below to stay safe. We hope that if you attend the Ross County Fair today, that you take extra precautions for you and your children to stay hydrated and take frequent breaks to cool down.
Some tips to stay safe:
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
- Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, visit a shopping mall or public library for a few hours.
- When indoors, take COVID-19 precautions, including maintaining a safe distance from others, wearing a mask in areas of substantial or high transmission, frequently washing your hands or using hand sanitizer, and covering sneezes and coughs.
- Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
- Avoid hot and heavy meals. These will add heat to your body!
- Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest outside, in the mornings and evenings.
- Cut down on exercise during the heat.
- When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you.
- If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
- Wear sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.
- Do not leave children or pets in cars. Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. When the outside temperature is 80 degrees, the temperature inside a car can rise to 109 degrees within 20 minutes, to 118 degrees within 40 minutes and to 123 degrees within an hour.
- While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of having a heat stroke or dying. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:
- Never leave infants, children, or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
- To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
- When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep.
- While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of having a heat stroke or dying. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:
- Drink plenty of fluids but stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks.
- Keep your pets and fair animals hydrated by providing plenty of fresh water in a shady area.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.
- Monitor those at high risk of heat-related illness at least twice a day. While anyone can be affected by heat-related illness,some people at greater risk than others include:
- Infants and young children.
- Pregnant women. o People 65 years of age or older. o People who are overweight. o People who overexert during work or exercise.
- People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
For additional tips and details on these recommendations, visit the CDC’s “Stay Cool, Stay Hydrated, and Stay Informed” page.