Weather Service: Heat Advisory for Medford, Much of New England

Temperatures are expected to reach the high Wednesday in Medford, and its expected to stay hot through the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

The mercury is expected to flirt with 100 degrees tomorrow and Thursday, while highs Friday are expected to push 90, according to the weather service. It issued a hazardous weather advisory early Tuesday morning, then a heat advisory Wednesday, effective from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

From the weather service:

A heat advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. Avoid prolonged work in the sun or in poorly ventilated
areas. Drink plenty of fluids...Stay in an air-conditioned environment...Stay out of the sun...and check in on relatives and neighbors.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency give these tips for staying safe in the heat:

• Slow down, avoid strenuous activity.  Do not try to do too much on a hot day.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.  Light colors will reflect heat and sunlight and help maintain normal body temperature. Protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat.
• Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Attempt to stay hydrated.
• Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.  They can actually dehydrate your body.
• Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals.  Avoid high protein foods that increase metabolic heat.
• Stay indoors as much as possible. 
• If you do not have air conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun.  Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help evaporate perspiration, which cools your body.
• Go to a place where you can get relief from the heat, such as air conditioned schools, libraries, theaters and other community facilities that may offer refuge during the warmest times of the day.
• Check with your community for information about possible local ‘cooling centers’.
• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers.  Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.
• Avoid too much sunshine.  Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself.  If you are outside, use sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating.
• Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle.
• Do not leave pets outside for extended periods.  Make sure that they have plenty of drinking water.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors.