Heat Advisory In Effect Wednesday For Philadelphia, Camden County

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Health Commissioner Donald F. Schwarz, MD, MPH has issued a Heat Advisory for the city Wednesday.

In addition, the Camden County Health Officer has issued a Heat Alert Tuesday and Wednesday, effective noon to 7 p.m. each day.

Officials say those most at risk in extreme heat are older people, those with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, individuals taking certain regular medications, those with mental illnesses, pregnant women, small children, those who work in a high heat environment, and anyone engaged in strenuous physical activity.

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.
• 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.

"When the Health Officer issues a Heat Alert, municipalities are notified that it would be appropriate to open municipal cooling centers to the public. Each municipality in Camden County has identified and is responsible for activating its own municipal cooling center," said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services in a statement.  "Please remember to check on elderly relatives and neighbors during the heat emergency, and do not over exert yourself outdoors in the sun."

"The excessive heat poses a public health risk that can be deadly to residents if they do not take the proper precautions," Rodriguez said. "At this time we all need to pitch in to make sure no is overexposed to this heat wave. This means, as a community, we need to ensure everyone has access to cool areas and are properly hydrated."

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.

For a complete list of Philadelphia's cooling centers, visit http://oem.readyphiladelphia.org/Map.

Camden County Cooling Center Locations
(Please check with your municipality for hours of operation)

AUDUBON BOROUGH

Senior Center, Oakland Avenue & Oak Street (Next to the Library)

AUDUBON PARK BOROUGH

Municipal Hall, 20 Road C

BARRINGTON BOROUGH

Senior Center, 229 Trenton Avenue

BELLMAWR BOROUGH

Bellmawr Community Center, 29 E. Browning Rd

BERLIN BOROUGH

Berlin Inter-Community Ambulance, 8 Park Avenue

BROOKLAWN BOROUGH

Community Center, Railroad Avenue

CAMDEN CITY

Cramer Hill Community Center, Reeves Avenue

Malandra Hall, New Jersey & Merrimac Road

Isabel Miller Community Center, 8^th & Carl Miller Blvd

North Camden Community Center, 6^th & Erie

Martin Luther King Community Center, 1151 Haddon Ave

Morgan Village Community Center, Morgan Blvd

Broadway Community Center, 713 Broadway

CHERRY HILL TOWNSHIP

Public Library, Kings Highway

Community Center, 820 Mercer Street

Cherry Hill Mall, Haddonfield Road

CLEMENTON BOROUGH

Clementon Library, 101 Gibbsboro Road

COLLINGSWOOD BOROUGH

Library, 771 Haddon Ave

Senior Center, 30 Collings Ave

Borough Hall, 678 Haddon Ave

Fire House, 20 W. Collings Ave

GIBBSBORO BOROUGH

Borough Hall, 49 Kirkwood Road

Senior Center, Rt. 561 (Behind Ice Arena)

GLOUCESTER CITY

Gloucester City Fire Dept., 1 N. King Street

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP

Hider Lane Senior Center, between Little Gloucester Road & Chews Landing Road

Municipal Building, Chews Landing Road

HADDON HEIGHTS BOROUGH

Borough Hall, 625 Station Ave

Haddon Heights Library, Station Ave

HADDON TOWNSHIP

Camden County Library, MacArthur Blvd

Father & Son Hall, Ormond Avenue

HADDONFIELD BOROUGH

Mabel Kay House, 24 Walnut Street (next to the Acme parking lot)

HI NELLA BOROUGH

Borough Hall, 200 Wykagyl Road

LAUREL SPRINGS BOROUGH

Borough Hall, 135 Broadway

LAWNSIDE BOROUGH

Borough Hall, 4 East Douglas Ave

Wayne Bryant Community Center, 323 E. Charleston Ave

LINDENWOLD BOROUGH

Lindenwold Community Bldg., White Horse Pike

MAGNOLIA BOROUGH

Borough Hall, 438 W. Evesham Road

MERCHANTVILLE BOROUGH

Community Center, Somerset & Greenleigh Court

MOUNT  EPRHAIM BOROUGH

Borough Hall Court Room, 121 S.  Black Horse Pike

OAKLYN BOROUGH

Oaklyn Library, Manheim & Newton Ave

Courthouse, 20 W. Clinton Ave

PENNSAUKEN BOROUGH

Pennsauken Library, Route 130 and Merchantville Ave

PINE HILL BOROUGH

Pine Hill Senior Citizens Center, 131 E. 12^th Ave

Pine Hill Recreation Center, 45 West 7^th Ave

RUNNEMEDE BOROUGH

Runnemede Fire Hall, 26 East 2^nd Ave

Runnemede Senior Center, 3^rd Ave and Irish Hill Road

SOMERDALE BOROUGH

Somerdale Borough Hall, 105 Kennedy Blvd

STRATFORD BOROUGH

Stratford Borough Hall, 307 Union Ave

VOORHEES TOWNSHIP

Echelon Mall, Laurel Road

Voorhees Community Center (behind the police station)

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP

Senior Citizen Community Center, East Atlantic Ave

Waterford Township Borough Hall, 2131 Auburn Ave

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP

Winslow Township Municipal Building, 125 South Route 73, Braddock

WOODLYNNE BOROUGH

Woodlynne Municipal Building, 200 Cooper Ave

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