Thunderstorms, Then a Cooldown

 
KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

A cold front was pushing a line of thunderstorms eastward across Pennsylvania on Tuesday evening, promising to cut the heat that had been nearing 100 degrees for several days.

And in Kensington, the Philadelphia Water Department says service has been restored to 55 homes that have been without running water since Sunday. Crews repaired the water main in the 1900 block of East Cambria Street on Tuesday afternoon, but a water department spokesman says it will take another few days to repair the street.

Tuesday was expected to be the final day of this brutal heat wave, with the high reaching about 98 degrees. 
The excessive heat warning was continuing through 8pm on Tuesday. 

Tourists near Independence Hall (above and right) were making use of every bit of available shade as they tried to beat the heat on Monday and Tuesday.


Check the KYW AccuWeather Forecast

Because of the heat wave, the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging's ''Heatline'' was continuing operations between 8:30am on Monday and midnight on Tuesday.  By calling 215-765-9040, you can get advice on precautions to take against the heat and detecting signs of heat stress.

People are being advised to drink plenty of water, avoid alcoholic beverages, stay out of the sun, spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned places, and wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
   
 
KYW's John Ostapkovich reports that Philadelphia Heatline operators (right) were getting more calls as the heat wave dragged on. 

Heidi Gambino has been answering Heatline phones since they opened for business on Saturday, and she says the call volume really picks up as the oppressive reality of the swelter sets in.  

The first day of a heat wave is not so bad, and people try to tough it out. But by day two and beyond, she says, houses are soaking up heat and not cooling down at night.

She says the Heatline is not, as some people seem to think, a fan or air conditioner giveaway, but a source for potentially life-saving tips:

"One of the big misconceptions people have is to close their windows to  keep the heat out. Or they put a fan on in their house with the windows closed. And unfortunately, what that does is make it even hotter, and basically it has the same effect as a convention oven, and that's when people end up dying."

And Gambino says that even though the Heatline is run by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, that does not restrict who can use it:

"The Heatline is generally for everybody, because a lot of people could use the tips we give out. But we do get a lot of  calls from elderly, and we do have a list of medical questions that we review with all callers to see what kind of medications they have, what kind of conditions they have."

If the situation of a caller seems potentially serious, she says, a nurse is dispatched to the location. In rare cases, Gambino says, Heatline personnel have called 911 on behalf of a heat victim.  

When the phone rings at the Heatline, nurse Carol Porter is on the second line of defense, where people with obvious health concerns are referred.

Some she handles with pointers and advice. Others need a visit from a traveling nurse who will bring in a fan to try to chase the swelter. But the Heatline does not hand out fans willy nilly:

"The coronor's office highly suggests that we don't give out fans, especially to people who are elderly or perhaps cognitively-impaired because they're going to use them inappropriately like not open windows. And their point of view it creates a bigger problem in terms of quality of air."

Creating a convection-oven effect. But Porter says there's no stock phone call, always different problems and different approaches to solving them.
   
KYW's Jim Melwert reports the Philadlephia Corporation for Aging's Heatline was expecting to have another busy day on Tuesday. 

Jen Norman, with the Philadlephia Corporation for  Aging, says the Heatline got about 300 calls on Monday:

"Thankfully, I think over the phone we're pretty creative with being able to get friends or neighbors or church groups to go out and check on people who are not in actual heat stress or distress."

But Norman says they do have nurses on hand for emergencies:

"Maybe 10 percent of the calls, total, we would have to have a nurse actually talk to the person and assess further. But an even smaller number,  we actually have to send someone out on."

Norman says it's important for all of us to check on any elderly or diabled people we know to make sure they're okay during this heat.
 
KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough reports that the keys to getting through heat waves like this are common sense and plenty of fluids.  

Keep hydrated before you do any sort of exercise, and if you're planning to exercise outdoors and feel you must do it, I strongly suggest early morning or early evening.  Even in those cases, you don't want to push yourself.
   
If you're willing to take a few days of break from your exercise regimen, this would be the time.  

Sunblock is important, but you need to reapply it often, especially if you're exercising. And you should stay out of direct sun for prolonged periods of time.  

If you have any chronic health problems, take these days off.  Do not push yourself.  

When it comes to the elderly, we're getting to the most dangerous part of the heat wave.  Many of the elderly are on fixed budgets, so they try to get through the heat without using air conditioning, or perhaps with a fan in a less than ideal situation.  As the temperature rises, they get more dehydrated, and they can become confused.  Perhaps they take the incorrect dose of medication, or perhaps they have a heart or respiratory condition that does not respond to the heat challenge.
  
If you have an elderly relative or friend, take some time today to look in on them. You could be a lifesaver. 
   
 
KYW's Mike DeNardo reports that people who have to work outside are finding ways to deal with the oppressive heat.

How hot is it? Imagine a skycap at the airport without a cap:

"They hold in the heat. They hold it in, so you feel hotter. So we took them off yesterday, and we'll probably take them off today."

That's Mike, a skycap at Philadelphia International. Over at the docks, dockworkers don't have that option -- they have to wear a hard hat.  And Harry, a longshoreman, says that you notice it on a day like today: 

"Oh, yes. Sweat would be running all down the back of your ears. But hey, you gotta deal with it."

Before it goes to your head!
  
KYW's Nancy Griffin reports that although many schools in the Delaware Valley were dismissing early because of the heat, teachers were making extra effort on Monday morning to keep their kids cool.

At St. Monica's Elementary School, teacher Joan Capolingua says  the key is keeping kids and quiet and calm:

"Well, the children all have wet rags they're sitting with, and I keep spritzing them every so often with a little spritz bottle that I have to kind hydrate them. They all had drinks at the water fountain, and they're just kind of relaxing, coloring, doing easy activities, nothing too strenuous."

Another teacher, Gina Mulvihill, says parents are doing their part to help:

"One of my students' parents brought in water ice for the kids today."

Which was also a nice treat:

"They enjoyed it. If you look at their shirts right now, you can see it all over them (laughter)."

Vice principal Sister Amy Summers also recommends that kids take part in quiet activities like reading and puzzles.  
 

KYW's Al Novack reports that Philadelphia's electric utility was not having any problems on Tuesday meeting the demand for electricity. Peco said Monday's demand was the highest ever for any June day in their history, and the fifth highest demand day of all time.


(Photos #1 and #2 by KYW's Ed Fischer)