PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1123 AM CDT SAT JUL 11 2009

...THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT IS ABOUT HEAT ISLANDS...AND HEAT AND AGE...

HEAT ISLANDS...ARE FORMED IN URBAN AREAS AS VEGETATION IS REPLACED
BY THE ASPHALT AND CONCRETE USED FOR ROADS...BUILDINGS AND OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE HARD DARK SURFACES...ABSORB RATHER THAN
REFLECT...INCOMING HEAT FROM THE SUN...CAUSING OVERALL URBAN
TEMPERATURES TO RISE.  DURING HOT WEATHER SPELLS...THE HEAT ISLAND
EFFECT CAN RAISE URBAN TEMPERATURES BY 2 TO 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
OVER THOSE IN NEARBY RURAL AREAS.

OLDER INDIVIDUALS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO HEAT RELATED
ILLNESSES.  THE BODY`S COOLING MECHANISM DOESN`T WORK AS EFFICIENTLY
AS WE AGE...AND LIVING ALONE OR BEING CONFINED TO BED CAN FURTHER
INCREASE VULNERABILITY TO HIGH TEMPERATURES.

KEEP THESE TIPS IN MIND TO HELP OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
STAY HEALTHY.

SEEK OUT AIR CONDITIONING.  JUST A FEW HOURS PER DAY IN AN AIR
CONDITIONED BUILDING CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF ILLNESS.  IF YOUR HOME
DOES NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING...VISIT A SENIOR CENTER...MOVIE
THEATER...LIBRARY...MALL OR DESIGNATED COMMUNITY COOLING CENTER.  A
FAN MAY PROVIDE SOME RELIEF...BUT WHEN TEMPERATURES REACH THE HIGH
90`S...ELECTRIC FANS DO NOT PREVENT HEAT RELATED ILLNESS.

DRESS FOR THE PART...BY WEARING LIGHT WEIGHT...LOOSE CLOTHING THAT IS
LIGHT IN COLOR.  DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS AND AVOID DRINKS WITH
CAFFEINE...ALCOHOL OR LOTS OF SUGAR...WHICH CAN LEAD TO DEHYDRATION.

HAVE REGULAR CHECK UPS ON A FAMILY MEMBER...FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR WHO
IS AT RISK...VISIT THEM REGULARLY.  IF YOU SEE SIGNS OF HEAT RELATED
ILLNESS SUCH AS CONFUSION...HOT AND DRY SKIN...HALLUCINATIONS OR
AGGRESSION...SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY.

-THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND EARTHGUAGE.NET-

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