The St. Joseph County Department of Health has issued an Extreme Heat Public Health Advisory which can be found below.

Extreme Heat Public Health Advisory:

Due to high daily temperatures and heat index expecting to reach over 100 degrees for the next several days, the St. Joseph County Department of Health is issuing a Public Health Advisory. Exposure to extreme heat outdoors, or the inability to cool down indoors, can cause serious life-threatening health problems. The St. Joseph County Department of Health wants to remind the public to take the following important precautions to prevent heat-related illness and injury:

• Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
o Keep in mind: Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in                the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or                  bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use                  your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
• Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.
• Pace Yourself: Cut down on exercise during the heat. If you’re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, weak, or faint.
• Wear Sunscreen: Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.
• Do Not Leave Children in Cars: Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting a heat stroke or dying.
o When traveling with children, remember to do the following:
▪ Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are                       cracked open.
▪ To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car                         seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with                      the driver.
▪ When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not                          overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car
• Avoid Hot and Heavy Meals: They add heat to your body!

• Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
o Warning: If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask                how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Replace Salt and Minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.
o If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic                conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt                tablets.
• Keep Your Pets Hydrated: Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets and leave the water in a shady area.
• Know the Signs: Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.
o Use a Buddy System: When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-               workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a               person to become confused or lose consciousness.
o If you are elderly, have a friend or relative call to check on you throughout the day            during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least            twice a day. Infants and young children need more frequent monitoring.
• Monitor Those at High Risk: Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others:
o Infants and young children
o People 65 years of age or older
o People who are overweight
o People who overexert during work or exercise
o People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure,              or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor                        circulation

The City of South Bend’s community centers are open as cooling spaces as well as local libraries. See below for locations and hours of operation.

• Charles Black Community Center, 3419 W Washington St., South Bend, IN 46619
o Hours: 8:30 AM – 9 PM Monday – Thursday, 8:30 AM – 5 PM Friday
• Howard Park Event Center: 604 E Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46617
o Hours: 8 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 8 PM Saturday, 1 PM – 8 PM Sunday
• Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 1522 W. Linden Ave. South Bend, IN 46628
o Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 3 PM Saturday
• O’Brien Fitness Center
o Hours: 5 AM-9 PM Monday through Friday, 7 AM-4PM Saturday, 9AM-2PM Sunday
• Pinhook Community Center
o Hours: Typically by appointment, but someone is normally in the building around 8               AM.

For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention at www.cdc.gov and stay up to date with information by following the St. Joseph County Department of Health on social media (Facebook, and Twitter).