KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

AccuWeather says temperatures will approach near-record levels this week, flirting with 100 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday.   An excessive heat warning is in effect through Thursday.

KYW’s John McDevitt reports the latest heat wave, the second of the summer, has claimed the life of an elderly woman in north Philadelphia.  The death of 85-year-old Mamie Lee James is the 5th heat-related fatality in the city so far this year. 

The city Health Department says James died inside her Oakdale Street home. Officials say her body was found by a neighbor Friday night. Two fans were running, but all the windows were shut.

 

Mary Mullen is with the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging. She says windows must be open when using fans for proper circulation:

 

"It’s almost like a convection oven when they keep the fans going without windows open. Sometimes we get seniors who are concerned about safety, so they don't want to open their windows. But we really encourage them -- they have got to get those windows open just to prevent a situation like this."

 

Hundreds of calls have been coming in to the heat line set up by the Corporation for Aging which, on Monday, had 23-intake specialists answering questions in several different languages.  They're giving tips on how to stay cool and surveying callers' medical conditions -- not only in English, but in Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and other languages as well.

 

Director Chris Gallagher:

 

"Sometimes, if you have an ailment, you're older, or you're very young, your body cannot regulate the temperature as well. One of the first signs of that is confusion.  And once someone gets confused and if they live alone, it's a very dangerous time. You have to check on people several times during the day to make sure that they are safe."

 
The number for the city’s heatline to get medical advice or tips on staying cool is 215-765-9040.

KYW's Ed Kasuba reports Burlington County is giving away fans to low-income elderly residents to help them deal with the heat. 

 

Applicants must be at least 60-years-old and those who have a medical need will get priority treatment.

Gary Miller is Burlington County’s Human Services Administrator:

 “The fan give away program is one designed to help medically compromised or elderly individuals who might be shut in and subject to or exposed to excessive heat and in danger of succumbing to those heat problems”

For more information people may call the Burlington County Office on Aging at 609-265-5069.