The Dog Days of Summer

The dog days of summer are here and this weekend Kennesaw and Metro Atlanta will be in for a heat wave.

Weather outlets are reporting that temperatures will break the 100 mark in Kennesaw today through Sunday, with a predicted high of 103 on Saturday. To keep you and your family safe from the scorching temperatures here are 10 tips from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s (GEMA) Ready Georgia campaign to help beat the heat in the coming days:  

• Insulate your home by installing weather stripping around your doors and windowsills to keep the cool air inside.

• Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.

• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.

• Familiarize yourself with the medical conditions that can result from over-exposure to heat, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke to help lessen health threats and harm.

• Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.
• Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.

• Postpone outdoor activities and take shelter in a home, building or hard top automobile if severe weather is headed your way.

• Make sure pets have plenty of water and shade, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it's extremely hot.

• Conserve water in your household to help prevent drought: wash only full loads of dishes and laundry, fix household leaks and install low-flow toilets and showerheads.

• Closely monitor a local radio station, TV station or NOAA Weather Radio for the latest information on excessive heat watches and warnings.

Ready Georgia is currently hosting a contest for the chance to win a free weather radio, so visit the Ready Georgia Web site and create a Ready profile for a chance to win.