COURT HOUSE – The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued an excessive heat warning, which is in effect from noon July 19 to 10 p.m. July 21.
Middle Township will have the Martin Luther King Center on Main Street in Whitesboro available to residents from 8 a.m until 9 p.m. July 19-21 as a cooling center.
* HEAT INDEX VALUES…100 to 105 on July 19 afternoon, 105 to 115 on July 20 afternoon, and 105 to 110 on July 21 afternoon.
* TIMING…The most dangerous of the heat and humidity will occur from mid-afternoon into the early evening each day. However, overnight minimum temperatures will only drop into the mid to upper 70s to around 80, providing little relief from daytime heat.
* IMPACTS…The excessive heat and humidity may cause heat stress or heat stroke. The most susceptible individuals are the elderly and those with pre-existing health issues.
* Cape May County is among the area affected by the warning.
Instructions:
Take extra precautions if working or spending time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to the early morning or the late evening.
Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing.
Drink plenty of water. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in a vehicle under any circumstance.
This is especially true during hot weather when a car’s interior can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heatstroke is an emergency, call 9 1 1. An Excessive Heat Warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur.
The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely.
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
