Fulton County, Salvation Army to Provide Heat Wave Relief

by Patch Staff

Here comes the heat.

Today, the mercury is expected to exceed 100 degrees and the .

As that will affect area seniors, the Fulton County Housing and Human Services Department's Office of Aging is opening Cooling Centers on Friday, June 29, 2012 to seniors in need of a cooler environment to ensure their health and safety. during days when temperatures are expected to rise as high as 100 degrees or more.

The four Senior Multipurpose facilities will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday to seniors living in Fulton County.  Any residents without air conditioning are urged to visit one of the four Senior Multipurpose Facilities.

In East Atlanta Patch:

Helene S. Mills Senior Multipurpose, 515 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. SE.

Additionally, Neighborhood Senior facilities will be available between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during dangerously high temperatures.

The ones located in East Patch are:

Auburn Neighborhood Senior Center, 300 Edgewood Ave. NE

Bethlehem Neighborhood Senior Center, 87 Thayer St. SE

Southeast Neighborhood Senior Center, 1650 Newtown Circle SE

For the full list of Senior Multipurpose Facilities and Neighborhood Senior Centers, residents can call the Fulton County STARline at 404.613.6000 or they may visit the Office of Aging's website.

The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta also is providing cooling stations and will distribute water and 500 free electric fans beginning today at 12 p.m:

• Ray and Joan Kroc Center Community Center (Mobile Canteen, Fans, Ice-cream): 967 Dewey St. SW, Atlanta
• The Salvation Army Peachcrest: 3500 Sherrydale Lane, Decatur
• The Salvation Army Lawrenceville (Cooling Station, Fans): 3455 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville

The Atlanta Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA) offers the following tips to cope with extreme heat:

1. Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
2. Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
3. Familiarize yourself with the medical conditions that can result from over-exposure to heat, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke to help lessen health threats and harm.
4. Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.
5. Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
6. Make sure pets have plenty of water and shade.  Be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it's extremely hot.