Cooling centers open throughout Clackamas County

Keep yourself, family, pets and community safe during the heat

OREGON CITY, Or. -- The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the Clackamas County area effective at noon Tuesday, July 15 through 10 p.m. on Wed nesday, July 16.

It is expected that these two days will see temperatures in the low-90s to 100. Overnight lows Tuesday night into Wednesday morning are expected to range in the mid-60s to low-70s.

Clackamas County encourages residents who don’t have alternative access to air conditioning to visit local cooling centers across the county, including the communities of Canby, Estacada, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Molalla, Oregon City, Sandy, Welches, West Linn and Wilsonville. Visit www.clackamas.us/relief for the full list of open cooling centers.

Clackamas County is actively assessing the needs of other vulnerable populations, including those who are unsheltered, and making arrangements, as needed. This may include access to overnight sheltering during all or part of this weather incident. For more information, please visit: www.clackamas.us/relief.

Protecting yourself and others

It is important that residents protect themselves and others from sun exposure and the heat. When it is hot, you should:

• Drink water. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks.
• Avoid cooking during the hottest part of the day.
• Take a cool shower or place a cool, wet towel on your neck.
• Spend time in air conditioned places. If you don’t have a safe, cool space, consider going to a community cooling center.
• Close curtains or blinds during the day.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose clothing.
• Check in on friends and neighbors during warm weather, especially those who don’t have air conditioning, are over 65, are living alone and/or with a chronic illness — twice a day is best.
• Never leave a person, child or a pet in a parked car on a hot day.
• Provide pets plenty of shade and water. Save outdoor activities for morning or evening, when possible.
• In Oregon, employees must have access to water, rest and shade on hot days.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include excessive sweating, fever, feeling faint or dizzy, nausea and vomiting, or severe muscle cramps. If someone is experiencing heat exhaustion, be sure to move them to a cool location and have them drink fluids.

If you must be out in the heat 

• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
• Rest often in shady areas.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels) and reapply as directed.
• Consider packing a couple extra bottles of water, these could be used for you and your family or anyone you see that looks like they could use a cool drink of water.
• The heat index (what the temperature feels like) matters because high humidity prevents sweat from evaporating, making it harder for the body to cool down—leading to heat exhaustion, cramps, or even heat stroke.

If you have a pet

• NEVER leave a pet in a parked car on a hot day. Temperatures inside a car can soar quickly to dangerous levels even if the outside temperature is in the 70s.
• Leave your pet at home during warm or hot weather.
• Be sure your pet has access to shade or a cool room and to plenty of drinking water.
• Exercise your dog early or late in the day to avoid the hottest times of the day.
• Remember that paw pads can easily burn on hot pavement. The rule is: if you cannot rest the back of your hand on the surface for more than 5 seconds, it is too hot for your dog to walk on.
• Prevent sunburn by keeping your pet out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and rubbing sun block (that is approved for use on pets) on unprotected areas such as the skin around the lips, tip of the nose and ears.

Watch for heatstroke signs: heavy panting, high fever, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, confusion, or collapse. If suspected, call a vet immediately and cool the animal with damp (not cold) towels on hairless areas while using a fan or AC to lower body temperature.