How To Stay Safe In Seattle's Heat This Weekend
Staying cool in the International Fountain at Seattle Center is one way to beat the heat.
KUOW Photo/Gil Aegerter
Marcie Sillman speaks with Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, health officer at Seattle King County Public Health, about heat illness and how to stay safe when temperatures soar.
Dr. Duchin recommends people stay cool, drink plenty of fluids and stay out of the sun. He says this is particularly important for infants and elderly people, anyone exercising, and people attending concerts or events involving alcohol over the holiday weekend.
Below is a list of tips/things to watch for from Seattle King County Public Health.
- Stay cool – if you don’t have air conditioning think about going to the movie theater or a pool.
- Dress in lightweight, loose clothing.
- Find shade and stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
- STAY HYDRATED – drink plenty of fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Stay away from alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks. All of these can dehydrate you.
- Wear sunscreen, sunburn heats the skin and can contribute to heat illness.
- If you’re exercising make sure you are drinking extra fluids, do it in cooler parts of the day (early in the morning or in the evening), and don’t push as hard as you normally would.
- Keep an eye on infants and elderly people; they’re more susceptible to heat illness.
- To help cool yourself or someone else down (if heat illness is a concern), put cold packs on the groin and under the arms, these are the best spots to target to help lower your core temperature.
