Heat Illness and Air Quality Warning for Pearl River

With temperatures reaching the 90s in Pearl River topped with heavy humidity, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued dangerous weather and air quality advisories.

“Ozone levels are usually highest after noon and through early evening hours on hot, sunny days, and therefore this part of the day is the peak time for symptoms. Performing vigorous exercise outdoors such as running also makes a person more likely to experience symptoms from exposure to ozone,” said Kathleen M. Henry, R.N., M.A., the Acting Rockland County Commissioner of Health, in a press release.

Tuesday’s local forecast shows high of 91 degree, with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms, according to the NWS’s forecast. The NWS has issued a hazardous weather outlook and anair quality alert.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation issued and ozone warning and said the air quality could be unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Click here for the current air quality index.

The Rockland County Department of health is warning residents to avoid taxing physical activity and avoid caffeine and alcohol, while staying hydrated. Symptoms for heat stroke, which claims lived throughout the country each year, includes: hot, dry skin; shallow breathing; a rapid, weak pulse; and confusion. 

Call 911 if you suffer from these symptoms.

Heat stroke can be confused with heat exhaustion, which can include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and exhaustion, but body temperature remains normal. Those suffering from heat exhaustion should drink non-caffeinated beverage, get out of the heat and cool themselves off.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following tips to prevent heat related illness:

• Find an air-conditioned shelter
• Avoid direct sunlight
• Wear lightweight and light colored clothing
• Take cook showers or baths
• Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device
• Drink more water than usual
• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink fluids
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine or sugary drinks that can dehydrate you
• Check the local news for heat alerts and safety tips.