Keeping Cool and Dealing with Summer Heat.

Polk County advises residents to take precautions during any upcoming heat waves.

Polk County saw record breaking temperatures June 26th -28th.  Polk County urges residents to be prepared and to take needed precautions during any further heat waves. 

Polk County has compiled several resources for community members to stay up-to-date on local information:

Cooling Centers and other alerts: co.polk.or.us/EM
Tips to stay cool and other health related information: http://heat.mchealthy.net
Statewide information is available by calling 2-1-1 or visiting 211info.org.

DURING A HEAT WAVE

• Slow down: reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Children, seniors and anyone with health problems should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors. 9 Dress for summer: Wear lightweight, loose fitting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat. 9
• Eat light: Choose easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads. If you pack food, put it in a cooler or carry an ice pack. Don’t leave it sitting in the sun. Meats and dairy products can spoil quickly in hot weather.
• Drink plenty of water (not very cold: Focus on non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids. Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty. If you on a fluid restrictive diet or have a problem with fluid retention, consult a physician before increasing consumption of fluids.
• Use air conditioners: Spend time in air-conditioned locations such as malls and libraries if your home isn’t air conditioned.
• Use portable electric fans: Fans exhaust hot air from rooms or draw in cooler air. Do not direct the flow of portable electric fans toward yourself when room temperature is hotter than 90°F. The dry blowing air will dehydrate you faster, endangering your health.
• Minimize direct exposure to the sun. Sunburn reduces your body’s ability to dissipate heat.
• Take a cool bath or shower.
• Do not take salt tablets: Only take salt tablets if recommended by a physician.
• Be aware of infants, older, sick, or frail people and pets. Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. Never leave children, disabled adults or pets in a car.
• Protect your electronics: Don’t leave cell phones and GPS units sitting in hot cars. 
• For more heat health tips, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention