Residents Urged to Remember Children, Pets, and the Elderly as City Declares Heat Advisory

The City of St. Louis declared a heat advisory for tomorrow, Friday, June 18 from 1pm – 7pm with temperatures forecasted up to 105°F and in the upper 90s throughout the weekend. Residents should be prepared to check in on friends and neighbors and be ready to recognize the signs of heatstroke. Heatstroke occurs when the body’s temperature climbs above 103°F. Other signifiers of heatstroke include hot, red, dry, or damp skin; a fast, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and losing consciousness. 

The City of St. Louis Department of Health is urging people caring for young children or pets to be mindful as temperatures begin to rise especially in regards to vehicles. Four children nationwide have perished from vehicular heatstroke this year. 

 “Parents and guardians, we ask you to be a role model for your children by preventing them from playing inside and around a vehicle at home, but also taking steps to remind yourself that the baby’s behind you,” says Dr. Fredrick L. Echols, acting director of health for the City of St. Louis. “A simple measure of putting your workday lunch, or purse in the backseat next to your child can serve as a final check before you go about your workday or errands this summer.”

Pets left in cars are also susceptible to heat-related deaths. The American Veterinary Medical Association says hundreds of pets die every year from heat exhaustion because the pets are left in parked vehicles. In only 10 minutes, the temperature inside a car could rise by 20°F, and continue to increase as more time passes. 

If you see a child or an animal in distress inside a vehicle, call the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department at (314) 231-1212.

Residents should also check in this weekend on elderly neighbors and family members to ensure they are using their air conditioning to cool their homes. If you know of someone in need of assistance, there are numerous heat-related services available for residents:

Cooldown St. Louis is helping area seniors and people with physical disabilities who qualify for new air-conditioning units and utilities this summer. Low-to-moderate income households may also seek utility assistance through CoolDownStlouis.org. Seniors may call the automated hotline at 314-241-0001 or 314-657-1599 for assistance. To be considered for an air conditioner, seniors or individuals with physical disabilities must not have a working air conditioner.

For help with a severe heat-related illness, call 911 immediately. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Additional tips on child safety and child injury prevention can be found on the Safe Kids Worldwide Heat Stroke website.  

Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Extreme Heat website for safety-related information on extreme heat. To receive updates on heat advisories and other important alerts in the future, subscribe to text notifications at www.stlouis-mo.gov/notifystl.