[Archived] City of Alexandria Takes Steps to Ensure Safety of Citizens and Employees During Hot Weather

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

City of Alexandria Takes Steps to Ensure Safety
Of Citizens and Employees During Hot Weather

With high temperatures forecast for our region for the remainder of the week, the City of Alexandria is taking steps to ensure the safety of citizens and employees, particularly children and the elderly.

While all Alexandria schools are air conditioned, Alexandria’s elementary schools are restricting recess to deal with the heat as well as the air quality. The schools are also providing water to students and teachers and are encouraging them to wear lightweight, light colored, loose clothing.

Alexandria’s senior centers and recreation centers, all air conditioned, are open for daytime activities. The senior centers available for persons aged 60 and over are the Charles Houston Senior Center, 905 Wythe St., 703.838.4832 and the Saint Martin de Porres Senior Center at 4650 Taney Ave., 703.751.2766. Door to door bus transportation is available by calling the nearest center for pickup.

David’s Place, a day shelter for homeless people, is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. It is operated by and located at Carpenter’s Shelter, 930 N. Henry St. It is open to anyone who needs to get out of the heat. For details, call 703.548.7500.

The City encourages residents to use caution during the extreme heat. Public places for citizens to “cool off” include Alexandria City libraries and the Landmark Shopping Center. Children, the elderly and people with chronic ailments are usually the first to suffer from the heat. Heat exhaustion, cramps, or in extreme cases heat stroke can result from prolonged exposure to these conditions. Friends, relatives, or neighbors should check on people who may be at risk.

Persons aged 60 and over who do not have other sources of cooling can request free fans from the Office on Aging and Adult Services, 703.838.0857. The fan program is sponsored by Dominion Power. In addition, the Virginia Department for the Aging provides funds to help residents 60 and over pay for their electric bill. This Cooling Assistance Program is coordinated by the Alexandria Office on Aging, 703.838.0857. In extreme conditions, window air conditioner units can be purchased for “at risk” households. For information on this program, call the Alexandria Office of Community Services, 703.838.0904.

City employees who work outdoors have also been encouraged to take precautionary steps to avoid heat-related illness or injury, including drinking plenty of fluids, wearing light colored clothing and taking breaks from the heat and sun..

Pet owners should check on their outdoor pets to ensure they have plenty of water and access to shade. They are also reminded not to expose their pets to the deadly danger of heat stroke by leaving them unattended in their vehicles.

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