COOLING SHELTER NOTICE
The City of East Chicago is opening a cooling shelter for residents this week.
Dates: Thursday, September 3 - Friday September 4
Locations: Riley Park Hall – 1005 E. Chicago Avenue.
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Please take necessary precautions due to the extreme heat advisory. Heat Index of 90°- 105° can cause the following: sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion possibly with prolonged exposure and or physical activity.
Preventing Heat-Related Illness
Elderly persons, small children, chronic invalids, those on certain medications or drugs (especially tranquilizers and anticholinergics), and persons with weight and alcohol problems are particularly susceptible to heat reactions, especially during heat waves in areas where a moderate climate usually prevails.
National Weather Service Heat Wave Safety Tips
1. Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
2. Dress for summer. Lightweight light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.
3. Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.
4. Drink plenty of water or other non-alcohol fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. Persons who (1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, (2) are on fluid restrictive diets or (3) have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.
5. Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
6. Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
7. Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, spending some time each day (during hot weather) in an air conditioned environment affords some protection.
8. Don’t get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.
