Senior Centers Provide Refuge from Heat

Looking for a place to cool off?

All Allegheny County adults aged 60 and older are welcome to visit any of the county-funded senior centers during regular hours of operation (up to eight hours during peak heat times) to socialize and enjoy some activities while taking refuge from the heat.

• Use the buddy system and check on the elderly and the infirm who do not have air conditioning and are less able to take care of themselves.
• Never leave a child, or a pet, in a vehicle alone on a hot day. A child may become disoriented in just five minutes, unconscious in 10 minutes and suffer brain-damage in just 20 minutes.
• Stay cool indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned environment. If you or a friend or neighbor does not have A/C, visit someplace that does, such as a public library, senior center, theater or mall.
• Taking a cool bath or shower is more effective than using a fan to cool off if you don’t have air conditioning. You can also wrap a cool, wet cloth around your neck, moisten your clothing and/or run cool water over your forearms.
• Drink plenty of fluids, at least eight cups a day, but not alcoholic or caffeinated drinks which actually cause you to lose more fluids. Avoid hot foods and heavy meals, which add heat to your body.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing. A wide-brimmed hat provides shade and helps keep the head cool. Sunscreen can prevent sunburn, which can affect your body’s ability to cool itself and also cause a loss of body fluids.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity, particularly during the hotter part of the day.