WASHINGTON — Saturday is going to be hot. How hot you ask? The heat index will top 100 degrees in some areas.
A code orange air quality alert is already in effect for the D.C. area on Saturday.
That means air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups including children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly.
Several cities and towns in the D.C. area have plans to deal with heat emergencies, such as opening cooling centers in public spaces. You can find a list of cooling centers here.
Temperatures this hot are more than just unpleasant, they’re potentially dangerous.
Experts warn residents to be “heat smart.” Some things you can do to help beat the heat are:
- Limit strenuous outdoor activities
- Don’t leave kids or pets in a closed car
- Drink more water
- Drink less caffeine and alcohol
- Check on senior friends and neighbors
- Take frequent breaks
- Get medical help if you stop sweating
- Adults should take corrective action, and children should seek help, if they feel nauseous, their face feels like it’s burning or they have muscle cramps
- Make sure outdoor pets have ample shade and water
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has specific recommendations for the symptoms of heat exhaustion and the even-more-serious heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cold, pale, clammy skin
- Heavy sweating
- Fainting
Under those circumstances, you should move to a cooler location, loosen your clothes, lie down, apply wet, cool cloth to as much of your body as possible and sip water. If you continue to vomit, seek medical help right away.
Heat stroke
- Body temperature above 103 degrees
- Hot, red, dry or moist skin
- Fast and strong pulse
- Possible unconsciousness
If you’re looking for relief, you might be waiting awhile.
“Temperatures on Sunday and Monday will be right around 100 degrees with the feel-like factor at 105,” said Storm Team 4 meteorologist Lauryn Ricketts.
Temperatures will stay in the mid-90s on Tuesday and Wednesday with a heat index in the upper 90s.
Ricketts said things won’t start to cool down until next Sunday and Monday, even then temperatures will still be in the 80s.
