Falls Church City Encourages Residents To Take Precaution in Excessive Heat

With temperatures forecast to rise near the triple digits this week, the City of Falls Church encourages residents to seek relief from the heat, especially those residents without air conditioning. The City offers the following tips to beat the heat:

• Stay indoors when possible.  If you live in a home or apartment without fans or air conditioning, take steps to lower your chance of heat problems: open windows at night; cover windows when they are in direct sunlight; and try to spend at least two hours of the day some place air-conditioned, such as the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) and the Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave.).
• Dress for the heat.  Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Drink water.  Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Avoid strenuous activity.  If you must participate in strenuous activity, limit it to the coolest part of the day.
• Take regular breaks when engaged in physical activity.  Take time out to find a cool place.  If you recognize that you, or someone else, are showing the signals of a heat-related illness, stop activity and find a cool place.
• Pay attention to weather reports.  You are more at risk as the temperature or humidity rises or when an air quality index alert is in effect.
• Remember your pets.  Keep pets safe during a heat wave by making sure they have enough water, access to shady areas, and/or bring them inside.

 For more summer safety information, visit www.fallschurchva.gov.