Staying cool and healthy during hot weather
Getting too hot can make you sick. You can become ill from the heat if your body can’t compensate for it and properly cool you off. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths during hot weather:
- Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as possible.
- Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
- Pace yourself.
- Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
- Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
- Never leave children or pets in cars.
- Check the local news for health and safety updates.
People 65 and older, children younger than two, and people with chronic diseases or mental illness are at highest risk for heat-related illnesses and should be monitored closely during periods of extreme heat.
IDEAS FOR COOLING OFF IN KITSAP COUNTY
- Visit a local swimming beach or sit in the shade near the water (Click here for a list of all swimming beaches monitored by the Kitsap Public Health District).
- Many local parks have shade and some have beach access too! Most are open dawn-dusk.
- Kitsap County Parks
- City of Bremerton Parks
- City of Poulsbo Parks
- City of Port Orchard Parks
- City of Bainbridge Island Parks
- Go swimming at a local swimming pool.
- Visit the library! Most Kitsap Regional Library locations have air conditioning!
- Go to a movie.
- Take the ferry and enjoy the breeze on the deck!
- Go shopping (stores and malls usually have air conditioning!)
RESOURCES:
- Kitsap County heat relief locations (updated 7/27/18)
- Hot Weather Safety (multiple languages)
- Heat Stress/Heat-Related Illnesses
- CDC: Keep Cool in Hot Weather