- Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Stay inside and out of the heat if possible. Save the yard work for another day or time.
- Visit indoor locations during operating hours to stay cool.
- Know the symptoms of heat-related illness. Heat stroke is an emergency, so call or text 9-1-1.
- Check on people with vulnerabilities in our community who may need help responding to the heat.
- Never leave children, older adults, or pets alone in a car.
- Fans create air flow but give a false sense of comfort and they do not reduce body temperature. Stay hydrated and take other steps to get cool.
- Our Department of Emergency Management and Security has more information about extreme heat, including important terms to know.
Check on people with vulnerabilities in our community who may need help responding to the heat.
- Older adults are more prone to heat-related health problems. If you are an older adult or a caregiver to an older adult, ensure that you are staying informed for health and safety updates and seeking medical care when needed.
- Infants and children should be dressed in loose, lightweight clothing and should never be left in a parked car even if the windows are open.
- School-based outdoor activities during extreme heat conditions for athletic teams and events are monitored closely. County departments that host summer camps also monitor conditions.
- People who work outdoors are more likely to become dehydrated and get heat-related illness. Encourage outdoor co-workers to drink plenty of water, ask if tasks can be scheduled earlier or later to avoid extreme heat and take frequent breaks to cool down and hydrate. Workers and supervisors should be able to recognize symptoms of heat stress.
- Individuals who are on prescription medications may have difficulty communicating what they are experiencing or their medications may make the effect of extreme heat more pronounced.
- People with chronic medical conditions may struggle to cope with or recover quickly from extreme heat.
When Fairfax County’s heat plan is activated, supplies will be available for those who need it including water bottles, sunscreen, insect repellant, hats and cooling towels.
Fairfax County distributes supplies through outreach workers and other partners who go out into the community to check on unsheltered residents, shelters, drop-in centers, and meal sites. In 2023, these supplies were provided:
The Cooling Assistance program helps keep Fairfax County residents cool during the summer months through:
- Payment of electric bills to operate cooling equipment.
- Payment of security deposits for electricity to operate cooling equipment for accounts in danger of being disconnected or when a deposit is needed to begin service.
- Repair of a central air conditioning system or heat pump.
- Purchase of a whole-house fan, including ceiling or attic fans.
- Purchase and installation, or self-pick-up, of one air conditioning unit (window or portable).
To be eligible, at least one household member must be: 60 or older; 5 or younger; or disabled according to Social Security, Medicaid or 100% Veteran’s Administration.
Are you in need of additional cooling during the summer?
The Senior Cool Care Program is a program that helps low-income older citizens in our jurisdiction keep cool during summer months. This program does not provide financial assistance, but it provides additional cooling at home by providing fans for eligible older adults, age 60 and older.
The program runs May 1 through Oct. 31. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please call the Aging, Disability & Caregiver Resource Line at 703-324-7948.
It’s important to know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Heat stroke symptoms include a high body temperature, confusion, loss of consciousness and seizures.
- Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting.
If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
The flyer pictured above is available in multiple languages:
Fairfax County is experiencing warmer, wetter, and weirder climatic conditions. Resilient Fairfax is a plan and program to help Fairfax County adapt and become more resilient to changing climate-related conditions such as extreme heat, severe storms, and flooding.
Please remember: never leave pets in the car! Temperatures rise quickly even with the windows down and it can be deadly for your pet.
- Be sure your pets have access to plenty of water, especially when it’s hot.
- Make sure your pet has plenty of shady places to go when outdoors.
- Test sidewalks with your hand. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s probably too hot for your pet.
- Avoid exercising with your pet outside on extremely hot days.
- If you see a pet alone in a parked car on a hot day, call 9-1-1.
Stay Informed with Fairfax Alerts
The Fairfax Alerts system delivers important emergency alerts, notifications and updates during a major crisis or emergency.
Sign up for emergency alerts that include: Heat Emergency; Public Safety, Traffic, Weather; Police Notifications; Emergency Preparedness Drills/Exercises.