By: Cara Latham
The summer made its presence known this week as area temperatures hit close to 100 degrees.
As the hot weather can take its toll on many people, especially younger children and senior citizens, officials from around the area have urged residents to take preventative steps to keeping themselves cool and healthy.
In Bordentown Township, officials posted a heat advisory on the township Web site earlier this week with a tip sheet for heat-related health issues provided by the county’s Health Department.
Township Committeeman Mark Roselli said Tuesday that "we have a larger senior population, and we have a lot of children, too, in the township. We try to make an effort to make sure people are aware of the facts so they can address it properly."
He added that township officials want to make information available during the heat wave.
"We don’t want anyone to get sick," he said.
The tips on the Web site include drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, spending whatever time possible in air-conditioned areas, even if only a few hours each day, making sure to eat enough food, and limiting activity levels in very hot weather.
The sheet also reminds caretakers to visit the elderly at least twice a day and monitor them closely for signs of heat illness. The same goes for young children, who should not be overdressed and should be given plenty of water. The tips also say to wear a hat when outdoors, and exercising early or late in the day.
The township’s health information is relayed through the county’s health program, he said. But if there’s ever an emergency in town, such as a large brownout, the township can declare a state of emergency. In the past, this has happened, he said, and the township opened the high school to residents, where provisions were made with Red Cross for food and sleeping accommodations, Mr. Roselli said.
The township’s Municipal Building also has two back-up generators and officials could move residents there if necessary, he added.
The health advisory on the township’s Web site also informed residents on Monday and Tuesday that low-income and elderly residents can borrow fans from the county if they needed them.
Residents should also be aware of warning signs for heat-related problems. Very hot and dry skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness could be signs of heat stroke. Remedies include moving the person to a cool area and immersing them or pouring cold water over them and seeking medical attention. Pale, clammy skin with profuse sweating, headache, dizziness and fatigue, and sometimes abdominal cramping can mean heat exhaustion, which can progress to heat stroke if left untreated. Other problems include heat syncope, or loss of consciousness, the advisory stated.
Mansfield Township Mayor Arthur Puglia said Tuesday that he believed most residents were doing well and that he hadn’t heard of any heat-related problems.
He said the only time there is a problem for the township is when the electricity is out, but he had not heard of that happening as of Tuesday. Most residents, including the adult communities, have air conditioners, he said.
But residents themselves aren’t the only ones in need of protection from the heat. The Mid-Atlantic branch of AAA also issued precautions for motorists who want to beat the summer heat and prepare their vehicles for extended, super hot and humid days.
According to the press release, batteries more than two years old should be tested by a technician to ensure they have the starting power to handle hot temperatures. Checking oil levels and conditions; air conditioning performance; antifreeze and coolant levels and conditions; and under-the-hood components such as belts and hoses, which are stressed by extreme heat, is crucial, the release stated. Residents shouldn’t use nonapproved substitute refrigerants.
If a car overheats, residents also should never attempt to remove the radiator cap until the engine has cooled because coolant in the radiator is under pressure and can flash into steam, causing severe burns, the press release stated.
Residents should keep emergency kits containing drinking water, a flashlight with extra batteries, warning devices flares or reflective triangles jumper cables and a first aid kit just in case of a breakdown, the release stated.

