Community Corner

Police Respond to Heat-Related Calls

Kinnelon police are warning residents to stay indoors.

have already responded to four heat-related emergency calls this week and are urging residents to stay indoors Friday, hydrate and check on their neighbors.

The National Weather Service reports excessive and potentially dangerous heat will descend upon Kinnelon and surrounding areas Friday and Saturday. No break is forecast until Saturday night, when there is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms--a slightly higher chance for precipitation is possible Sunday afternoon.

As a result, an Excessive Heat Warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday. Heat index temperatures could reach as high as 110 degrees or more.

The NWS warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures is upon us.

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"Heat illnesses are likely," the warning states.

Kinnelon Police Lt. John Schwartz said it is hard to tell which calls are specifically heat-related and which are correlated to the high heat, as heat could have an effect on a person's body, causing injuries to occur. However, Schwartz said the department has received calls where police are able to determine heat was a factor in the medical incidents.

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"The heat is just affecting people," he said. "We're not accustomed to this heat, [residents] are not drinking the way they should."

Schwartz said the heat is particularly affecting elderly residents and that there have been reports about the residents having breathing problems. Additionally, Schwartz said elderly residents may find themselves cold and dress in warmer clothing, not knowing that they are dehydrating themselves.

The NWS offers several tips for dealing with the heat:

  • If it's possible to stay out of the heat, do it. Even 15 minutes in the brutal sun can cause serious health conditions.
  • Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate.
  • Stay in air conditioning.
  • Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
  • Check on relatives and neighobors, particularly if they are elderly or if they suffer from chronic respiratory illnesses.
  • Keep pets in a cool location with plenty of water available.
  • If you or someone nearby has difficulty breathing or experiences chest pains, call 911 right away. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can kill if not taken seriously.

Schwartz offered his own tips as well.

"Drink lots of water, stay cool, check on your neighbors, especially if you have elderly neighbors, make sure that they're staying cool," he said.


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