HEALTH: CITY OF HOUSTON ACTIVATES HEAT EMERGENCY PLAN

The City of Houston is activating its Public Health Heat Emergency Plan to provide resources to people needing to take refuge from the heat. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory that will remain in effect through at least Tuesday evening. It expects dangerous heat to persist for the remainder of the week and into the weekend.

City of Houston libraries and multi-service centers will serve as cooling centers during their normal business hours weekdays and Saturdays. The Central Library downtown is unavailable as a cooling site. Community centers operated by Houston Parks and Recreation Department will open to the public after the conclusion of daily programming for enrolled participants.

People without adequate transportation to a designated cooling center during a heat emergency can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride. Transportation is only to and from the city cooling centers; transportation to other locations is unavailable.

The Houston Health Department encourages people to take extra precautions to protect themselves from heat-related illness and death. Highrisk groups such as adults ages 55 and older, children under the age of 4, and people with chronic illness or who are either overweight or on certain medications should stay inside air-conditioned buildings between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., the hottest part of the day.

The department recommends people protect themselves and their families from potentially deadly heat-re- lated illness. It recommends people: Drink more water. Drink lots of liquids even before getting thirsty, but avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar because these can result in the loss of body fluid. Conduct outdoor work or exercise in the early morning or evening when temperatures are not as high. Outdoor workers should drink plenty of water or electrolyte replacement beverages and take frequent breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned facility. People unaccustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment need to start slowly and gradually increase heat exposure over several weeks.

Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that permits the evaporation of perspiration.

Do not leave infants, children, senior citizens or pets unattended in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are cracked open. Check to make sure everyone is out of the car and don’t overlook children who may have fallen asleep.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat to help prevent sunburn as well as heat-related illness. Apply sunscreen, which protects from the sun’s harmful rays and reduces the risk of sunburn.

Seek accommodations in air-conditioned facilities during the heat of the day if the house is not air-conditioned: a relative’s home, multi-service centers, malls, movie theaters, libraries, etc.

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There had been chatter for days amongst the local sports media and fans about a possible return of one of the best pitchers ever to take the mound in a Houston Astros jersey.

Many did not want to get their hopes up too high as they did not know what to expect from new general manager Dana Brown when making blockbuster trades like his predecessors had done in the past.

The only hope was owner Jim Crane, who has been known to pull the trigger when making deals that will help improve his ball club with the possibility of playing in their fifth World Series.

On Tuesday, the Astros traded with the New York Mets for the reigning American League Cy Young Award Winner, Justin Verlander, and cash, in exchange for minor league outfielders Drew Gilbert (Astros' No. 1 prospect) and Ryan Clifford (Astros' No. 4 prospect).

"We are very excited about him [Verlander]," said Dana Brown to reporters during his press conference after the trade deadline. "We think he