If you or someone you know is struggling to stay cool during the oppressive heat of St. Louis summers, please do not suffer in silence or suffer alone. There is relief and help.
There are cooling centers located throughout the metropolitan area for anyone who needs them – libraries, churches, community centers and you can find a location in the nearest zip code by calling 211, the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
Cool Down St. Louis distributes new or gently used air conditioning units that are donated by businesses, organizations and individuals.
Relief by the way of electric utility assistance is available for low-income households, senior and disabled citizens by emailing the organization at info@heatupstlouis.org. Put “Request for Utilities” in the subject line. In the body of the email, state your name, age, street address, zip code, city and a daytime telephone number and the amount needed for the bill. Cool Down St. Louis states the information will be treated confidentially and will be used only for energy assistance efforts.
And the Cool Down takes donations as well. For more information, call 314-241-7668, or visit www.CoolDownStLouis.org.
Health departments urge caution and provide tips for staying safe in hot weather. As a reminder, whenever the temperature rises above 95 degrees, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health recommends:
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Spend as little time as possible in the sun and keep activity levels to a minimum.
- Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic beverages, especially those without sugar or caffeine.
- Take regular breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned room.
- Eat light, easily-digested foods, avoiding hot, heavy, or greasy meals.
- Be sure not to leave food unrefrigerated for long – food spoils rapidly in the heat.
- Take care of those who might not be aware of the danger or able to react accordingly –especially young children and the elderly. Check on your neighbors and relatives if they may be vulnerable or do not have air conditioning.
- Use air-conditioning whenever in a vehicle or roll down the windows if there is no air conditioning. Never leave a child or a pet in a parked car without air conditioning!
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion. If someone becomes dizzy, nauseated, or sweats heavily, find a cooler location for him or her immediately.
- Know the signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke is much more serious than heat exhaustion. The symptoms are similar to heat exhaustion, but also include hot, flushed skin, and normally sweating stops. If heat stroke is a possibility, call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is life threatening!
Please keep your furry family members safe as well whenever temperatures rise. Here are some tips for protecting pets during hot weather:
- Regularly check a pet’s water to make sure it’s clean and fresh. Ample drinking water is vital to animals during hot and humid conditions. Make sure to adjust the drinking quantity for the size and number of pets in the area. You can also spray your pet with water to cool them off.
- Provide a shady spot for pets.A pen near trees will work or you can fasten a sunroom screen to the sides and top of the pen to provide shade too.
- Never leave your pet unattended in a hot vehicle. Internal vehicle temperatures can reach 150 degrees.
For more information about heat safety, please visit the St. Louis County Health department’s Heat Safety Tips page at http://bit.ly/1H7F4xr.
