The Heat Is On!
Tips to help you keep it cool and safe this summer
Hot times, it’s summer in our city. The city of Glendale offers the following safety tips, summer programs and services for residents to help you keep your cool as the temperatures climb. Check out the following categories:
Water Safety
The Glendale Fire Department offers these safety tips to keep children safe around water:
Around the House Water Safety
- Avoid standing water. A child can drown in 1 to 2 inches of water!
- Never leave a child alone in the bathtub.
- Empty all buckets and pails.
- Close toilet lids.
- In case of a drowning, call 911.
Pool Safety
- Never leave children alone around water.
- Fence your pool and latch your gate.
- Secure doors, gates and pet doors that are leading to the pool area.
- Empty inflatable pools when not in use.
- Know where your child is at all times.
- Teach children how to swim.
Heat Safety
Glendale safety officials encourage residents to be safe and smart during extreme temperature days. With temperatures expected to climb above 105 degrees this weekend, firefighters want you to stay safe and know the dangers that extreme heat conditions cause.
Following these simple tips will help you survive the heat.
- Exercise and do yard work early. Avoid being outside during the hours of 11 a.m. through 6 p.m., when temperatures can reach their highest.
- Water wins. Drink plenty of water before, during and after any outside activity. Staying hydrated is one way to keep your body healthy in extreme heat. Limit soda, caffeine and alcohol during any outside activity.
- Protect your skin. Wear a hat, and apply sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
- Keep kids safe. Never leave a child or pet inside an unattended vehicle. Temperatures may reach 200 degrees or more in just a few minutes and will cause serious injury or death!
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
- Nausea
- General weakness
- Dizziness
- Body cramps
(Cooling off, preferably indoors and re-hydrating your body may relieve this condition.)
Signs and symptoms of heat stroke are:
- Hot flushed skin
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Cramps
- Sometimes unconsciousness
(This condition is much more serious and will require immediate medical attention.)
Points of Refuge
When temperatures soar in Glendale, the city is offering several key facilities as points of refuge and hydration. These Glendale sites are open during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday:
- O’Neil Community, 6448 W. Missouri Ave.
- Glendale Adult Center, 5970 W. Brown St.
- Foothills Library, 19055 N. 57th Ave.
- Velma Teague Library, 7010 N. 58th Ave.
- Glendale CAP Office, 5949 W. Northern Ave.
- Click here for a map of Water Hydration Stations and Refuge Locations (pdf)
If the excessive temperatures continue to persist and the requests for assistance become greater, more resources will be determined by the city’s Emergency Management Department. They also encourage the public, whether you’re a new resident to the Valley or a native, to stay alert to the dangers of the high seasonal temperatures and pay attention to heat index warnings issued through the media.
For more information on the city’s response during excessive heat, call Glendale’s Emergency Management Department at 623/872-5000.
Water Conservation
Be Waterwise - Rising Temperatures and Landscape Watering
As the temperatures start to rise, we desert dwellers know the rule – hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Many of us also take this as a signal to give our plants more water, as well. Most homeowners actually overestimate the amount of water they need to program on their irrigation timers. On average, Arizonans use as much as two-thirds of their water outdoors. When the irrigation timer is set to water too much and too frequently, much of this water ends up being wasted, leading to high water bills and plants that actually die from over watering – not from heat. Take the “mystery” out of setting your irrigation timer by clicking here and requesting the LandscapeWatering by the Numbers brochure or by using the interactive watering guide at www.wateruseitwisely.com.
Where to Chill Out This Summer in Glendale
Don’t let the heat get you down. Glendale has plenty of places to cool off and enjoy the summer season. Here are a few places you can add to your summer to-do list.
- Check out our aquatics: Between Rose Lane and the Foothills Aquatics centers, Glendale residents have plenty of opportunities to be wet and wild. The fun includes super water slides, lazy rivers, lap swimming, shady retreats, aquatic play sets and more. For an added bonus, at the Foothills Recreation Center you can make a day of it and enjoy the center’s many great inside amenities to boot—climbing walls, ping pong tables, racquetball courts, basketball and more. Who says you can’t stay fit in the heat?
Click here to check out our aquatics programs now!
- Book it to your nearest library: Glendale’s libraries have a whole host of programs happening this summer. Check out story times for the little ones; seminars, workshops and book clubs for the adults; and a whole host of family activities. Check out what’s happening at your branch today, or just head on over and check out a few new titles for your summer reading list.
Click here to find out more about exciting library programs!
- Visit our Visitor Center: You don’t have to be from out-of-town to drop into this Glendale gem. Boasting a countless collection of free local, regional and statewide maps, brochures and travel information, the Glendale Visitor Center is the first place to start any Glendale journey. And even if you’ve lived here for years, you might be surprised at the treasures in town we can help you uncover. The Glendale Visitor Center is an official Local Visitor Information Center. More than 500 brochures are on display covering the state's attractions. Internet access is also available for visitors to “stay connected.” Learn more about your city by visiting our tourism Web site. Click here to go there now.
Help in the Heat - Emergency Repair Assistance
Our hot weather also increases wear and tear to evaporative coolers and home air conditioning units. For high-risk groups, including the elderly and small children, it is critical that these units are operating properly. The city of Glendale utilizes federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to provide much-needed emergency repair assistance to qualified, low-income families and elderly who are Glendale residents. Read more (pdf)
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