Hot. Humid. Sticky. Relentless.
With temperatures threatening to reach 100 Monday, and hover in the high 90s for most of the week, officials across the region have urged people to take cover.
The advice is to drink plenty of water; wear lightweight, light-colored, loose clothing; limit activity during the day; and if possible, find a cool place to hide and stay there.
"If you have an air conditioner, you should use it," said Heidi J. Gambino, help-line supervisor for the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.
Some, namely the elderly, she noted, try to conserve energy costs by not using their air conditioners.
But, Gambino cautioned, "do not use a fan in a closed room, because it will create a convection oven effect."
In the unforgiving heat, the obvious objective is to stay cool.
Those most vulnerable for heat stress include small children, those with chronic medical conditions, people who work outdoors, and the elderly, according to area health officials.
The warning signs include loss of energy, loss of appetite, nausea, lightheadedness, and heavy sweating.
But "those at risk in the heat shouldn't wait for a warning," urged Philadelphia Health Department spokesman Jeff Moran. "They could take precautions to avoid exertion when it's hot."
In the case of a medical emergency, Moran said sufferers should call 911.
So far this year, there have been four heat-related deaths in the city.
On June 2, a 50-year-old man was found at Eighth and Walnut in Center City with a core body temperature of 105, the starting point for hyperthermia.
On June 3, a 77-year-old man was found in his second-floor bedroom, with all his windows shut. On June 28, a 46-year-old woman was found in her bedroom also with the windows closed.
That same day, an 88-year-old man was found in his first-floor bedroom, windows closed, and a box fan blowing.
Moran urged neighbors and caretakers to check on those most at risk during the lingering heat wave.
If there is a heat advisory, 13 Delaware County senior centers will extend their hours and check in on at-risk patrons, said Louis G. Colbert, director of the County Office of Services for the Aging.
In Upper Darby, the health department will monitor the heat, and make necessary adjustments, said assistant director Matt Verdi. That includes possibly opening "a comfort station" in Upper Darby High's cafeteria, serving water and snacks for those needing to escape the heat.
"If the conditions warrant," Verdi added, "the facility could remain open overnight."
