What are you doing about Heat #AltusOK

"Extreme heat causes more deaths than any other weather-related event. According to a 2013 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, in the U.S. an average of 658 people per year died of heat related injuries between 1999 and 2009. The following resources can help you prepare for and recover from an extreme heat incident."

The American Red Cross offers these tips:

• Listen to local weather forecasts and stay aware of upcoming temperature changes.
• Be aware of both the temperature and the heat index. The heat index is the temperature the body feels when the effects of heat and humidity are combined. Exposure to direct sunlight can increase the heat index by as much as 15° F.
• Discuss heat safety precautions with members of your household. Have a plan for wherever you spend time— home, work and school—and prepare for the possibility of power outages.
• Check the contents of your emergency disaster kit (bug out bag) in case a power outage occurs.
• Know those in your neighborhood who are elderly, young, sick or overweight. They are more likely to become victims of excessive heat and may need help.
• If you do not have air conditioning, choose places you could go to for relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day (schools, libraries, theaters, malls).
• Be aware that people living in urban areas may be at greater risk from the effects of a prolonged heat wave than are people living in rural areas.
• Get trained in First Aid to learn how to treat heat-related emergencies.
• Ensure that your animals’ needs for water and shade are met.

What are you doing to prepare for Summer?