Indianapolis provides safety tips ahead of heat advisory

INDIANAPOLIS — Starting this weekend, Central Indiana, including Marion County and the city of Indianapolis, will be under a heat advisory.

Ahead of the expected heat, officials with the city of Indianapolis are “encouraging residents to brush up on their hot weather safety tips,” according to a news release.

“During this extreme heat, please remember to check in on your neighbors while also taking the appropriate steps to keep yourself safe,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said in the release.

According to previous reports, heat advisories will go into effect starting at 1 p.m. Saturday and is expected to last through Tuesday evening. Officials with the National Weather Service are expecting heat index values up to 103 degrees each day.

The release said public buildings, including Indy Parks family centers and branch locations of the Indianapolis Public Library, will be open during normal business hours this weekend to help residents stay cool. Pools and splash pads at Indy Parks are also expected to be open.

The following Indy Parks Family Centers will be open on Sunday from 12-6 p.m.:

• Stanley Strader Park: 2850 Bethel Ave.
• Broad Ripple Park: 1550 Broad Ripple Ave.
• Thatcher Park: 4949 W Vermont St.
• Indy Island Aquatic Center: 8300 E. Raymond St.

Officials with the city’s office of public health and safety are also asking the community to not forget about unhoused members of the community during the extreme heat.

“As is the case with any emergency, if someone recognizes an unsheltered person in distress or in a heat-related emergency, call 911 immediately,” the release said.

The city also provided the following tips for residents as the heat comes in the next few days:

• Stay hydrated
• Check on relatives and neighbors, especially the elderly and those without access to air conditioning.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Delay outdoor chores until the evening, if possible.
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothes while working outside. Take frequent breaks in the shade or an air-conditioned room.
• Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle.
• Bring pets indoors and ensure they have water to drink.

For more information about being safe in heat, click here.