Temperatures will reach the high 90s in Northeast Georgia this week and officials are providing tips on how to protect yourself and others from the heat.
Sam Marlow, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said temperatures will continue to rise throughout the week.
“[Wednesday] afternoon we've got a high in Gainesville of about 90 degrees,” Marlow said. “That's going to keep ramping up through the week with 93 on Thursday, 97 on Friday and 98 on Saturday.”
Natasha Young, public information officer with District 2 Public Health said the most important thing people can do is stay hydrated, stay cool and stay informed.
“The best way to stay cool is to wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing,” Young said.
It is a good idea to find an air-conditioned place and stay there through the hours of 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. if possible.
“If you can, stay in an air-conditioned place if you don't have air conditioning in your home,” Young said. “Go to the mall or public library, a friend's house, or a relative's home, to stay in that air conditioning as long as you can.”
One of the most important things to keep yourself safe is to drink enough water.
“Stay hydrated, don't wait till you get thirsty. You want to avoid sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages,” Young said.
It is important for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young people to stay out of the heat.
“It's harder for them to regulate their body temperature,” Young said. “So you want to make sure that if you are in that age bracket you avoid the outside as much as possible.”
Young also suggested making sure your pets have access to cold water and protection from the sun and heat if they are outside.
