Common Council

Protect Yourself in Severe Heat!

Heat Advisory Issued for Dane County Residents Advised to Stay Cool, Stay Hydrated, Stay Connected

Temperatures are predicted to be dangerously hot with heat indices approaching 105° Tuesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory from 11am Tuesday through 8pm Wednesday.

Extremely high or unusually hot temperatures coupled with high humidity can have some serious effects on your health such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Over 1,000 deaths from extreme heat events occur each year in the United States. People most at risk from getting sick from the heat are older adults, those who work or exercise outdoors, infants and children, people without housing, and people with a chronic medical condition.

Here are some important precautions you should take to avoid serious health consequences related to this extreme heat.

Stay cool

Stay in air-conditioned buildings. If you need a cool place to stay, public places such as local senior and community centers, libraries, and malls are good options. Call ahead to confirm their hours.
Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when it is the hottest part of the day, and avoid direct sunlight.
Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Never sit in a parked car or leave a child or pet in a parked car.

The County will be opening the Dane County Coliseum as a cooling center during the today (Tuesday, June 14th). The cooling center at the Coliseum will be open from 10am until 5pm today (Tuesday). Those accessing the cooling center are encouraged to enter thru the west lobby of the Coliseum (by the large globe). If you need a ride to the Coliseum you can ride Madison Metro for free just by telling the driver where you are headed.

Stay hydrated

Drink more water than usual and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.
Avoid alcohol and liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
Make sure your family and pets are drinking enough water.

Stay connected

Check your local news for extreme heat warnings and safety tips.
Regularly check on friends, loved-ones, and neighbors. Call, text, or do a video call. If you visit in person, remember to stay physically distant (six feet away), for example, greet them from outside their home.

Stay aware about your own situation as well as what's going on around you. If you start feeling overheated, weak, dizzy, nauseated, or have muscle cramps, you could be experiencing heat illness.  Move to air conditioning, drink water, get under a fan, and put on cool washcloths.  If your symptoms worsen or don't improve, go to the emergency room.

If you see a parked car with a child left alone, call 9-1-1 and stay with the car. If you see a pet left alone, also call 9-1-1 and don't leave until help arrives.

Learn how to protect yourself from extreme heat from Public Health Madison and Dane County. Learn more - https://www.publichealthmdc.com/news/protect-yourself-in-severe-heat-0

Contacts: Communications Team, PHmedia@publichealthmdc.com