Summit Government Offers Safety Tips for Beating the Heat

The City of Summit's Department of Community Services is feeling the effects of the heat wave that has the Hill City and much of the East Coast in its sweaty grip. The office sent along some ideas for staying safe during weather conditions that can be dangerous and even deadly for some.

Sweltering temperatures and high humidity have area residents scrambling into airconditioned buildings to keep cool. As Summit experiences more than six consecutive days of above 90-degree temperatures, the increased risk of heat related health issues also intensifies. Taking steps to ensure your safety during this weather event is key. 

Precautionary actions recommended by the American Red Cross include:

• Don’t leave children or pets in the car—temperatures can exceed 120 degrees.
• Stay hydrated, avoiding drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid darks colors, as they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
• Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors that don’t have air conditioning or live alone.
• Check on animals frequently, and provide them with cool water.
• If there is no air conditioning available, move to a cooler public place—examples being malls, the library, the YMCA, etc.
• Check the contents of your emergency preparedness kit in the event of a power outage.
• Keep an eye out for heat exhaustion.

While personal and public safety is the biggest concern during periods of extreme heat, there are still actions that can be taken to reduce the environmental impact of a heat wave. According to Kryston’s Hardware on Springfield Avenue, conserving water is not as challenging as it may seem. 

The overall goal according to owner Nanette Kryston is to keep all plants hydrated as best as possible. However, this should only be done within reason, using only as much water as necessary. 

Kryston warns that water evaporation is a problem during peak hot hours, as the extreme heat will evaporate water before the ground can absorb it. She said the most efficient time to water plants is early in the morning, when it is still cool enough for water to soak into the ground effectively. Running a sprinkler before dawn takes advantage of higher water pressure and spreads out water consumption over the course of the day. 

Kryston added that dusk is another opportune time to water plants due to decreasing temperature and sun exposure.  However, the later it gets, the larger the risk of generating mildew or mold on plants overnight due to the dark and dampness.

In order to take water conservation a step further, she suggests eliminating watering the lawn altogether. Ninety percent of grass species will not immediately die when not watered, but instead will go dormant. Grass may not be quite as green come August, but avoiding watering will conserve water—decreasing water waste drastically—and the grass will come back good as new.

Please remember that high temperatures, although often enjoyable, can be dangerous as well. The bottom line for staying safe extreme weather such as a heat wave to use is common sense. Don’t exceed normal physical activity, stay hydrated and cool, and use only as much water as necessary.