Lt. Governor Kinder Urges Precautions During Missouri’s Heat Wave
National Weather Service issues heat advisory
for parts of state into the weekend
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder today urged Missourians to take extra precautions this week as the National Weather Service issued heat advisories over a large section of the state.
At particular risk are elderly residents. As the official Senior Advocate for the state of Missouri, Kinder urged residents to take extra steps to ensure their elderly family members and neighbors are safe during the extremely hot weather.
“As the temperature rises, so does the health risk to seniors,” Lt. Governor Kinder said. “This hot weather is especially hard on the elderly. I urge everyone to check on their elderly family members and neighbors to make sure their prepared and safe.”
Kinder offered these tips for staying cool:
· Drink plenty of water. Health officials recommend four to eight glasses a day. Also, it’s important to limit the intake of caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Fresh fruits and vegetables also can help ensure proper hydration.
· Elderly residents should be encouraged to turn on their air conditioners, especially during the hottest times of the day, from noon until 3 or 4 p.m.
· If you have elderly neighbors, friends or family – especially those with respiratory problems – check on them daily to see if they need help staying cool.
· If you need a respite from the heat, take a trip to the mall or the grocery store, or visit public facilities with air conditioning, such as the library, during the hottest times of the day.
· Many counties have senior activity centers, where elderly residents can cool off in the company of friends and neighbors. Often these centers provide extended hours during heat advisories. To find out if your area has a senior center, call the Missouri Association for Agencies on Aging at 800-497-0822, or call the Lt. Governor’s office at 573-751-4727.
Dangerous heat is expected to continue in much of Missouri until at least Saturday, with high temperatures near 100 degrees and heat index values of 105 to 110 expected through the week.