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The Heat Is On

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(Tuesday) July 6, 2010

Staff report
alexandrianews.org

Kids playing basketball at Warwick Pool. (Photo: James Cullum)

The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory and an Air Quality Alert for Alexandria. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution levels may become unhealthy for some people including children, the elderly and people suffering from asthma and heart and lung disease. The heat index is supposed to reach 105 this week. With temperatures climbing into the triple digits and forecasts for more of the same all week, the City has posted on its website several tips to help citizens stay cool this summer.

  • Drink plenty of fluids. When working outside, drink fruit juice or a sports beverage during exercise to replace fluids, salt and minerals lost from sweating. If you’re on diuretics or a fluid-restricted or low-salt diet, ask your doctor. Drink often and in reasonable amounts, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty (your body needs more fluid than thirst will indicate). Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
  • Watch what you eat and monitor your salt intake. Avoid hot and heavy meals – they add heat to your body.
  • Plan outdoor activities around the heat. If you must go outside, do so in the morning or at night when it’s cooler. Resting frequently when you are outside will give your body a chance to recover from heat.
  • Avoid exposure to the sun – sunburn limits your body’s ability to keep cool and causes loss of body fluids. If you must go outside, avoid sunburn and wear light clothing. Use sunscreen (apply it indoors before going outside) and wear a hat.
  • Limit physical activity until your body adjusts to the heat.
  • Do not keep children or pets in cars with windows rolled up. Temperatures inside a car with closed (or even partially opened) windows can reach up to 150 degrees quickly, resulting in heat stroke or death.
  • If you must work outside, use the “buddy system.” Heat-related illnesses can cause confusion. Therefore, make sure someone else knows of your plans.
  • Relatives and friends should check on elderly family or neighbors throughout the day during heat waves.
  • If you don’t have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall, recreation center or public library – even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. To find a recreation center near you, visit www.alexandriava.gov/RecreationCenters.
  • Cool baths and showers (water temperature around 75°F) provide surprising relief from the heat much faster than cool air.As always, if you feel that you are having a medical emergency, please dial 911.

Stewart Robinson cools off with a drink outside of "Misha's Coffeehouse and Roaster" while his friend, Ricardo Harper looks on. (Photo: James Cullum)

The Alexandria Health Department also recommends the following websites to help educate and protect you and your family during extreme weather:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ExtremeHeat
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – www.epa.gov/naturalevents/extremeheat.html

Princess, a seven-year-old Shiba Inu, shaking off water after a dip in the Potomac River. (Photo: James Cullum)

There were power outages throughout the city over the weekend. The outages are expected to continue this week due to the temperature. Dominion Power, which supplies much of Alexandria’s power offered some energy-saving tips including:

  • Raising the thermostat setting to 78 degrees to recognize savings of 1 percent or more on the monthly electric bill for each increase of one degree.
  • Changing the direction of a ceiling fan so that the air blows downward in the summer.  A ceiling fan uses less power than air conditioning and increases comfort, particularly when used in conjunction with raising the thermostat.  It can make the room feel 10 degrees cooler.
  • Closing drapes during the hottest times of the day to block heat from entering the home. Sunny windows account for a significant amount of unwanted heat and make air conditioners work much harder.

  • Robert Grant, 15 months, receives ice cream from his mother at "The Scoop Grill and Homemade Ice Cream" on King Street. (Photo: James Cullum)

    Scheduling activities that require hot water — such as washing dishes or clothes — for the early morning or late evening. This will result in less heat and humidity being added to your home.