ATLANTA--HomeCare's hometown really was Hotlanta last week, with temperatures topping 100 degrees and a heat index of 110 for four days running. The city opened up more than 30 "cooling centers" for seniors and others without access to air conditioning.

As the nation sizzled under an extended heat wave through much of the week, with highs in the 90s from the East Coast to the western Plains, authorities urged the elderly to stay in air-conditioned buildings and take it easy.

"People don't realize it but heat is generally the number-one killer" among weather-related causes, National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Miller told the Associated Press. "We've gone all year without a serious heat wave so we want people to be aware of what to do to keep themselves safe."

Health experts caution that the elderly, young children and those who are sick or overweight are more likely to become victims of extreme heat, but note that spending at least two hours a day in air conditioning can cut down significantly on the number of heat-related illnesses.

According to the National Disaster Education Coalition, people living in urban areas may be at greater risk from an extended heat wave than people living in rural regions. Respiratory problems can worsen "when stagnant atmospheric conditions trap pollutants in urban areas, thus adding unhealthy air to excessively hot temperatures."

The NDEC also advised checking on those who spend much of their time alone, pointing out that a majority of deaths during the 1995 Midwest heat wave were persons who were alone.

For a list of precautions to take during a heat wave from the American Red Cross, click here.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2007 Penton Media, Inc.