Heat advisory now in effect for southeast Texas, including Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A heat advisory is now issued by the National Weather Service for the southern half of southeast Texas until Monday evening.

The counties affected are Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Liberty, Matagorda, Waller and Wharton.

Heat index values are expected to reach or exceed 108 degrees during the afternoon and early evening hours generally along south of I-10.

COOLING CENTERS OPENED AND HOW TO AVOID HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES

Below is information from the city of Houston on cooling centers that are now open.

As a result of the anticipation of dangerous heat, the city of Houston has activated the Public Health Heat Emergency Guideline, which calls for providing transportation free of charge to residents to pre-designated cooling centers.

Residents who find themselves without adequate air conditioning, and who would like to use City facilities to cool off can do the following:

1) Use their own transportation resources to access a public City facility during normal operating hours (available online at houstontx.gov/emergency

2) If a resident does not have adequate transportation, they may call 3-1-1 (713.837.0311) to request a ride on METRO assets to an available cooling center.

Cooling Centers

The City has designated 49 public city facilities to act as Cooling Centers during periods of extreme heat during their normal business hours. These include libraries and multi-service centers.

On Saturday, August 8th, the following Houston Public Libraries will be extending their hours until 7:00pm to provide additional time where residents may use their facilities to cool down:

In addition, the public is welcome to come to any public City facility (including Parks & Recreation facilities) during their normal operating hours to use air conditioning.

Some facilities are closed or have limited hours on weekends, so it is necessary for residents to use the map at houstontx.gov/emergency to find an open facility.

Transportation

When the City's Heat Guideline is in effect, METRO will provide transportation free of charge to requesting residents to and from designated cooling centers.

Residents who need transportation can call 311 (713.837.0311) to request assistance.

Heat Health Safety Tips

The Houston Health Department (HHD) recommends residents begin taking precautions against high temperatures to avoid heat-related illnesses. High body temperatures can lead to damage to the brain or other vital organs and even death.

HHD recommends that residents check on elderly relatives, friends and neighbors for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke during the approaching hot summer months. Seniors are a population especially vulnerable to high temperatures. It takes them nearly twice the time of younger people to return to core body temperature after exposure to extreme temperatures.

Others who are particularly vulnerable include infants and children up to four years of age, those who are overweight and people with heart and respiratory problems.

Heat exhaustion, usually associated with heavy activity, is the body's response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat. Signs include profuse sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, a weak-but-rapid pulse and fainting. The skin may be cool and moist. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke.

Heat stroke occurs when the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating system fails and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.

Heat stroke symptoms include an extremely high body temperature (above 103F, orally), red, hot and dry skin (no sweating), rapid and strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness.

Staying indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned home or building such as a library, shopping mall or multi-service center, is the best protection against the heat. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans without refrigerated air only spur the movement of hot humid air, which will accelerate body heating and raise internal body temperature. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.

To avoid heat-related illness:

Stay alert to heat advisories. The National Weather Service declares a Heat Emergency when the heat index, a computation of the air temperature and humidity, reaches 108 degrees on two or more consecutive days. A heat index of 108 is a potential health threat for all people and is particularly dangerous for high-risk groups.