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By Patrick Berry

The summer has finally arrived. With temperatures reaching into the high 90’s, the heat and humidity has made it uncomfortable for all St. Louisans. For the elderly, young children, and people with health problems however, this heat wave has provided more than a simple discomfort.

Last week at my home, for example, my air conditioning went out. While this was a major hassle for myself, it was nearly debilitating for my 92 year old grandmother who lives with me. Thankfully we had the ability to quickly install an emergency portable AC unit. Many families throughout St. Louis do not have this luxury.

For low income families with small children and the elderly, this can be a very dangerous time. It is for this reason that programs such as Cool Down St. Louis are providing families with tips and suggestions for staying cool during these hot weeks. Through their “Be a Good Neighbor, Check on Your Neighbor” outreach program, Cool Down St. Louis officials, along with local residents, have been making house rounds to check on elderly, disabled, and needy households throughout St. Louis. Cool Down St. Louis also accepts gently used air conditioners and distributes them to St. Louisans who are desperately in need of air conditioning.

Operation Weather Survival (OWS), a local organization that works to prevent illness or death caused by extreme heat or cold, offers important safety recommendations for remaining healthy throughout the hot summer months. They suggest drinking 8 glasses of water a day, dressing in loose fitting clothing, resting during the middle of the day, showering in cool water, and to check regularly on ill, elderly, or disabled relatives. OWS also offers cooling sites, telephone reassurance services, and air conditioning units.

Many local St. Louis heating and cooling businesses are currently offering rebates and discounts on new AC units. Welsch Heating and Cooling, for example, is advertising rebates which could save you over $1000 on a furnace/air conditioner installation.

Summer heat in St. Louis can be dangerous, even fatal, if the proper steps and precautions are not taken to protect the loved ones in your life. With all the resources available to St. Louis residents, there is no excuse not to protect your elderly, ill, or disabled family members this summer.

To learn more about any of the programs that Cool Down St. Louis currently offers or to get involved you can contact them at 314-241-7668. To find out more about the services that OWS offers, you can contact them at 1-800-427-4626.