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TextFairfax County Provides Information to Stay Cool
Fairfax County Office of
Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
703-324-3187, TTY 711, FAX 703-324-2010
July 31, 2006
Fairfax County Provides Information to Stay Cool
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning from Tuesday, Aug. 1, until 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3, and residents are encouraged to follow the guidelines below to stay safe.
- Drink plenty of fluids: Drink 2-4 glasses of cool fluids each hour.
- Do not drink caffeinated or alcoholic beverages because they dehydrate the body.
- Keep cool indoors: If you can, stay in an air-conditioned area. Resting for just two hours in air conditioning can significantly reduce heat-related illnesses.
- Plan outdoor activities around the heat: If you must go outside, go before noon or at night when it's cooler. Avoid strenuous physical activities or reschedule them for the coolest part of the day, usually the early morning.
- Give your body a break: Heat is stressful on your body. Limit physical activity until your body adjusts to the heat.
- Eat light meals, avoiding high-protein foods because they increase metabolic heat.
- Don’t take salt tablets unless directed by a doctor.
- Wear light-colored clothing, which helps reflect sunlight.
- Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Sunburn makes it more difficult for your body to cool off.
- Never leave children or pets unattended in a car—not even for a few minutes. Even with the windows slightly open, the temperature in a car on a 93-degree day can soar to 125 degrees in just 20 minutes and approximately 140 degrees in 40 minutes.
During extremely hot days, there is plenty residents can do to stay cool, such as visiting a local library, taking in a movie, strolling through a shopping center, or visiting a community recreation center or senior center that is air-conditioned. Fairfax County has many air-conditioned facilities where residents can conduct county business, get educated or be entertained.
For more information and a complete list of summer safety tips, visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/oem/prepare/heat.htm.
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