Dangerous Heat This Week; Cooling Centers; Tips to Stay Safe
Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures of 106 to 109 are forecast for Wednesday through Saturday this week in the Gorge.
A cooling center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in The Dalles at the St. Vincent de Paul Society, at 315 W. 3rd St.
Those needing a ride to the cooling center can call the LINK in Wasco County at 541-296-7595. They operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other cooling options are:
The Dalles Library, 722 Court St. (open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or;
Mid-Columbia Senior Center, 1112 W. 9th St., (open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and until 5 if needed. Must be masked.)
Excessive heat has caused more deaths than all other weather related events in this country. Heat related illness can affect anyone at any age. Please pay special attention to the tips below if you are 65 or older, if you have existing medical problems like heart disease, if you work outdoors, or if you care for children under the age of four. Heat-related illness is preventable, here are some helpful tips:
Stay Cool
Find air-conditioned shelter
Avoid direct sunlight
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
Take cool showers or baths
Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device
Stay Hydrated
Drink more water than usual, even if you’re not thirsty
Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar
Remind others to drink enough water
Stay Informed
Keep updated through local news or reliable social media resources on extreme heat alerts and safety tips
Learn the symptoms of heat illness, listed on the attached fact sheet
Please also remember that you should NEVER leave children or pets alone in a vehicle.
To learn more about preventing heat-related illness, as well as the signs and symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, please see the attached heat-related illness fact sheet and visit:
Oregon Health Authority: http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareForExtremeHeat.aspx
National Weather Service (enter your city & state to get a weather forecast):
http://www.weather.gov/forecastmaps
NOAA (Watches, Warnings or Advisories for Oregon):
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/or.php?x=1
(For more information, please contact North Central Public Health District at (541) 506-2600 or visit us on the web at www.ncphd.org or our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthCentralPublicHealth/.)