Summer Preparedness

Please remember that public locations, such as the Hangar at Town Square in Kenmore and Town Center at Lake Forest Park, are open and can provide an air-conditioned break from the heat. Also take extra precautions when working outside, such as scheduling outdoor activities in the early morning or evening, wearing lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, as well as taking frequent breaks in the shade or air-conditioned environments. Anyone who feels overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. If you are experiencing signs of heat stroke, it is an emergency, and you should call 911."

Provided by: Kevin Lowery, NEMCo Emergency Manager.

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NEMCo Summer Tips CLICK HERE​​​​

Make a Heat Action Plan

​​​How to Prepare Your Home | Firewise.org​​

Stay Safe During and Returning Home After a Wildfire, go to https://www.ready.gov/wildfires.

As wildfire smoke fills the sky up and down the west coast, experts advise people to stay inside to avoid the health effects of smoke exposure. But how clean is your indoor air? 

Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of chemicals and particles. Fine particles in wildfire smoke can be harmful to health because they can reach lower areas of the lungs.  

• Box fan filter to clean indoor air of smoke

• Corsi–Rosenthal Box air filter

• Wildfire Smoke Information | CDC 

• Wildfire Smoke |  UW EHS

• Outdoor Air Quality | UW EM

• Air Quality Index

• Power Outages and Indoor Air Quality | EPA

• Check that air-conditioners, fans, refrigerators, and freezers are working properly.

• Learn about safe food and medicine storage during hot weather, and especially during and after a power outage.

• Make sure you have the contact details for people who may be able to help if you are in need.

• Make a plan with family, friends and neighbours to keep in contact during hot weather.

• Make sure you have contact details for your general practitioner, pharmacist, or other source of good health advice​ such as healthdirect​​.

• Speak to your doctor if you have chronic health conditions or are on regular medications to discuss what to do during hot weather.

• Know where in your local area you may be able to go to get relief from the heat. Places that may be cooler than your home include:

  • air-conditioned public buildings such as libraries and shopping center's

  • parks with plenty of vegetation and shade.

If you can, consider any changes you might make to your home to help keep it cooler in hot weather. Changes may include:

• • installing curtains or blinds on the side of your home that faces the sun to keep it cooler during hot weather

  • considering external awnings, shutters or other shading to prevent sun shining on windows

  • insulating your home to help reduce the indoor temperature when weather is hot and to maintain warmer temperature when cold.

More information is available : 

• Heat Safety Tips and Resources | National Weather Service

• Adapting to Climate Change, Northwest  | EPA.gov

Any medication that's kept outside of its recommended temperature range can potentially be affected. Check with your pharmacist for specific requirements for your medications remember: heat may affect their effectiveness!

Here are some resources:

• CDC Heat Health

• Mayo Clinic - how heat affects medication

• Doctors at Baylor College of Medicine say leaving your prescriptions or over-the-counter pain killers in your car can damage their effectiveness. 

      Heat, medications don't mix - Baylor  

      College of medicine

• Schedule outdoor activities in the early morning or evening hours rather than in full mid-day sun.

• Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing.

• Take frequent breaks in the shade or air-conditioned environments.

• Stay hydrated.

•  If you feel over-heated, find a shady area to relax and cool down.  Do not continue to exert yourself.

• Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Remember that heat stroke is a medical emergency and call 911

Extreme heat causes power outages by overloading electrical grids with high air-conditioning demand while simultaneously reducing the physical efficiency and capacity of power lines, transformers, and plants.

Why Extreme Heat Causes Outages

• High Demand: Homes and businesses run air conditioners at maximum capacity, straining the power grid.

• Equipment Stress: High ambient temperatures make it hard for transformers and cables to cool down, lowering their performance or causing them to fail.

• Line Sag: Hot weather causes transmission lines to expand and sag, which can trigger short circuits if they touch nearby trees. 

How to Stay Safe and Cool

• Seek Relief: Move to a basement, shaded area, or a public air-conditioned space like a library or cooling center. 

• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water and wear loose, lightweight clothing. Block out sunlight by keeping window drapes and blinds closed. 

• Protect Food: Keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut; a closed fridge stays cold for about 4 hours, and a full freezer holds temp for 24 to 48 hours. 

• Electrical Safety: Unplug major appliances and electronics to avoid damage from power surges when electricity returns, but leave one single light switch on to know when power is back. Never use gas ranges, ovens, or outdoor barbecues indoors for cooling or cooking due to the deadly risk of carbon monoxide