NW Connecticut News

The Woodstock Town Hall will be available as a cooling center  Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 4 pm. Please use the lower-level  doors. Below are extreme heat preparedness tips from the Connecticut  Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security:

Take Care of Yourself and Check on the Most Vulnerable:

• Check  on your neighbors, especially the elderly, young children, and those  with respiratory illnesses to ensure they are remaining hydrated and  have adequate cooling in their homes.
• Infants and young  children are sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on  others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids.
• People  65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently  and are less likely to sense and respond to change in temperature.
• People who overexert during work or exercise may become dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness.
• People  who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high  blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression,  insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat.

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

• Stay  in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If you must be  outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening.  Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to cool  off.
• Find an air-conditioned shelter. (Call 2-1-1 for a list of  cooling centers). Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.
• Avoid direct sunlight.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths.
• Check on those most at-risk several times a day.
• Pets that cannot be brought indoors should be provided ready access to water and shade to keep them cool.

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 two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.
• Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
• Remind others to drink enough water.

Original source can be found here.