As Temperature Rises, Manchester's Emergency Management Office has Tips for Staying Safe

With temperatures expected to Wednesday and Thursday, Manchester's Office of Emergency Management has recommendations on staying safe.

The tips come as the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory through 8 p.m. Thursday for Ocean County. Additionally, a Code Orange air quality alert is in effect for Wednesday, meaning children, the elderly and those with lung sensitivities should avoid outdoor activities.

According to Arthur Abline, the township's emergency management coordinator, residents exposed to excessive heat may suffer from heat cramps, exhaustion or stroke, leading to an uptick in calls for help.

"As for emergency calls, we do see a slight increase, especially for heat exhaustion during a heat wave," Abline said in an email Wednesday morning.

To avoid medical issues, residents should seek air conditioning and never sit in a house with all the windows closed. Light colored clothing should be worn outside and plenty of fluids, especially water, should be on-hand to avoid dehydration. Children and pets should never be left unattended in a vehicle.

"The Office of Emergency Management has given talks throughout the years to raise awareness about disaster preparedness, which includes all kinds of weather-related disasters as well as man-made disasters," Abline said.

"People themselves have become more aware ... during a heat event due in part to the extensive coverage from the media and what people should do and not do," he said.

If the heat causes illness, Abline said that residents should immediately dial 911 and seek shelter in a cool building or in the shade. 

"If they are thirsty, they should slowly sip water — not gulp or guzzle — and most importantly stay calm," he said.

Abline also recommends having a battery operated radio, along with extra batteries, should power outages occur. Local stations will broadcast the locations of emergency shelters, he said.