Staying cool in summer’s dog days 

We”™re in the dog days of summer, which actually began on July 3 and run through Aug. 11. These are generally the hottest days in the Northern Hemisphere, thanks largely to the Earth”™s tilt toward the summer. (They have nothing to do, as the ancient Greeks and Romans thought, with the rising of Sirius, the dog star, but the phrase “dog days” has stuck.) 

Robison, the Port Chester-based home comfort company, has these tips for keeping cool: 

• If possible, stay out of the sun and avoid extreme temperatures and strenuous activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use fans and/or air conditioning or seek a cooling center. 
• Drink lots of water, rest and locate shade if you are working outdoors or if your work is strenuous.”¯ 
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing when inside without air conditioning or outside. 
• Drink fluids, particularly water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. 
• Take a cool bath or shower or go swimming. (Many find, though, that a warm bath is more effective at releasing heat through the extremities. It sounds counterintuitive, but it does work.) 
• Be sure your pets and children have access to plenty of water, especially when it is hot. 
• Never leave your children, pets or the elderly and disabled in a vehicle, even for a few minutes. 
• Check on your neighbors during a heatwave, especially if they are seniors, young children and people with disabilities and functional needs. 
• Know the warning signs of heat illness and call 911 if someone has hot, dry skin; trouble breathing; rapid heartbeat; confusion, disorientation or dizziness; nausea and vomiting.