Heat Alert For Collingswood Thursday

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — For the third straight day, Collingswood residents are being warned about intense heat conditions. A Heat Alert has been issued for Camden County until 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, county officials announced. It is the second straight day the county has been placed under a Heat Alert. On Tuesday, the county was under a Heat Advisory.

“The hot and humid weather will continue today with temperatures in the mid-90s with a peak heat index around 100 degrees,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services. “Please remember to check on elderly relatives and neighbors during this extreme heat, and don’t over exert yourself outdoors.

“When the Camden County Health Officer issues a Heat Alert, municipalities are notified that it would be appropriate to open municipal cooling centers to the public,” Rodriguez said. “Each town in Camden County has identified and is responsible for activating its own municipal cooling center. Please call your municipality for the location of the closest cooling center.”

In Collingswood, cooling centers are located at:

• Collingswood Borough Boro: 678 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, 856-854-0720;
• Collingswood Fire House: 20 West Collings Avenue, Collingswood, 856-854-1043;
• Collingswood Library: 771 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, 856-858-0649; and
• Collingswood Senior Center: 30 West Collings Avenue, Collingswood, 856-854-4440.

To avoid heat-related illness, the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following:

• Avoid, as much as possible, working or playing in the hot sun or other hot areas.
• If you must be out in the sun, wear a head covering. A wide-brimmed hat or visor will not only protect your head from intense rays of the sun, it will also provide a shield for your eyes.

• Use air-conditioners and fans. Open windows to release trapped hot air.
• Those taking regular medication should consult with their physician. Some medications cause an adverse reaction in hot weather.
• Wear lightweight clothing.
• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids, warm and cool. Because the body loses fluids in the heat, drinking lots of liquids helps to avoid dehydration.
• Maintain a normal diet.
• Shower or bathe in water that is near skin temperature.
• Do not leave older people, children or pets alone in cars.
• Make sure your pets also have plenty of fresh drinking water.
• The early warning signs of heat stress are decreased energy, slight loss of appetite, faintness, light-headedness and nausea. People experiencing these symptoms should go to a cool environment, drink liquids, remove excess clothing and rest.

Serious signs of heat stress include unconsciousness, rapid heartbeat, throbbing headache, dry skin, chest pain, mental confusion, irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, staggering and difficulty breathing. People experiencing these symptoms should get to immediate medical attention. While waiting for help, move the person to a cool area, remove excess clothing, spray with water, and fan the person. In an emergency, dial 911.

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