Everyone’s advised to take steps to keep themselves safe in this week’s extreme heat. Berrien County Emergency Management Coordinator Captain Rockey Adams tells WSJM News it’s important to watch out for symptoms of heat related illness.
“Make sure that you’re monitoring for things like dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and really make sure that those around you are not experiencing those problems as well,” Adams said.
Adams says you should limit your time outdoors, moving outdoor tasks to later in the day. If you are outside, wear loose clothing, drink plenty of water, and take frequent breaks in the shade or inside with air conditioning. Adams reminds parents to keep an eye on the kids.
“They often get to working really hard playing around and they don’t realize that they’re overworking themselves. So, we definitely want to keep an eye on kids to make sure they don’t overdo it.”
Adams says the heat can harm pets, too. Make sure any outdoor animal has some shade and plenty of cool water. He notes cooling centers can call 211 to register themselves, and that way, people who call 211 can be advised of cooling center locations. Adams reminds people to avoid alcoholic, sugary, and caffeinated drinks in hot weather.
