With a heat advisory in effect for Indianapolis and Marion County, city officials are sharing critical heat safety information to help residents stay safe.
The National Weather Service forecasts heat index values reaching up to 103 degrees daily, posing risks of heat stress and heat exhaustion, especially for young children, the elderly and outdoor workers.
“During this extreme heat, please remember to check in on your neighbors while also taking the appropriate steps to keep yourself safe,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said.
Safety tips include:
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Check on vulnerable neighbors and relatives, particularly the elderly and those without air conditioning.
- Avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours and wear light, loose clothing when outdoors.
- Recognize signs of heat-related illnesses and call 911 for severe symptoms.
- Never leave children or pets in parked vehicles and bring pets indoors.
Public cooling centers:
Public buildings, such as Indy Parks family centers and Indianapolis Public Library branches, are available during regular hours to offer relief. Certain Indy Parks centers will also extend their hours from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, at these locations:
- 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.
For additional cooling options, visit parks.indy.gov/extremeweather.
Additional reminders:
- Support unhoused individuals by contacting 911 if someone is in distress.
- Minimize energy costs by utilizing resources like AES Indiana’s CoolCents program or other assistance options.
- Be alert to Knozone Action Days, which signal unhealthy air quality levels, and take precautions to limit outdoor exposure.
Stay informed and find more resources by visiting weather.gov/safety/heat.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
To read more health stories, click here.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
