*Published:* 07.19.2019 *Contact:* Cara Cruz Assistant Public Information Officer Public Safety 412-255-8615 cara.cruz@pittsburghpa.gov Public Safety Urges Pittsburgh Residents to Take Precautions Ahead of Heat Wave PITTSBURGH, PA (July 18, 2019) The City of Pittsburgh will be under a heat advisory from noon on Friday until 8 p.m. Saturday evening. The National Weather Service is predicting high temperatures and humidity that could push the heat index to between 100 and 105 degrees. In anticipation of the extreme conditions, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS Chief Ron Romano, Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones, Parks and Recreation Director Ross Chapman, and the Chairman of UPMC’s Emergency Medicine Department Dr. Donald Yealy held a news conference to provide information on how residents can safely beat the heat while protecting children, the elderly, and pets. “We have not had a heat event like this in several years,” said Public Safety Director Hissrich. He added, “We will aggressively prosecute (for) animals that are left in vehicles, dogs, cats and certainly if we have a child left in a vehicle, that will be aggressively prosecuted as well.” Hissrich encouraged people to check on their elderly neighbors throughout the day, especially in the afternoon when temperatures peak. UPMC's Dr. Donald Yealy outlined some of the early warning signs of heat stress such as, “not feeling quite right,” upset stomach or feeling a little sweaty. “The later findings like difficulty breathing, passing out and maybe even suffering cardiac arrest, nobody has a problem identifying that, the goal is to never get to that point,” said Yealy. “Don’t ignore the early signals. The late ones are bad.” EMS Chief Romano urged city residents to drink plenty of fluids and stay in the house if they can, especially those with underlying medical conditions. He also reminded people that medics are always at the ready and to never hesitate to call 911 in the event of an emergency. “Certainly we’ll be available, we’ll probably be busier, but we’ll get there as soon as we can,” said Romano. Fire Chief Jones warned about a seemingly fun, but potentially dangerous way to cool down, by opening neighborhood fire hydrants. “We do not have a water shortage now, but if everyone decides to crack one open, then we can quickly have one,” said Jones. The City’s Parks and Recreation Director Ross Chapman suggested a better option would be checking out some city’s 18 public pools, eight spray parks and three cooling centers, the latter of which will have extended hours through the weekend. For more information on the locations and hours for the city’s cooling centers, pools, and spray parks: https://pittsburghpa.gov/press-releases/press-releases.html?id=3133 ------------------------------ . LaptopCupGreenMarker