• By Yalonda Galloway
• Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. Stay Informed.

With summer officially five days away, please be aware of the hot temperatures that we experience here in North Carolina, and take necessary precautions to prevent health-related illnesses. According to the CDC, climate change and extreme heat causes more deaths each year than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods combined. Adults over age 65, children under 4, people with existing medical problems such as heart disease, and people without access to air conditioning are at risk. The Forsyth County Department of Public Health encourages you to take the following precautions for your health this summer:

Stay Cool. Keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness.

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible.
• Find an air-conditioned shelter.
• Avoid direct sunlight.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths.
• Check on those most at-risk twice a day.
• NEVER leave anyone in closed, parked vehicle.

Stay Hydrated. Because your body loses fluids through sweat, you can become dehydrated during times of extreme heat.

• Drink more water than usual.
• Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink more fluids.
• Drink from 2 to 4 cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.
• Avoid liquids containing high amounts of sugar.

Stay Informed. Stay updated on local weather forecasts so you can plan activities safely when it's hot outside.

• Check local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips.
• Learn the symptoms of heat illness:
• Muscle cramps
• Fatigue, weakness
• Dizziness, fainting
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting

For more information visit: http://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat/index.html or http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.asp,