Use Your Air Conditioner or Visit a Cooling Site
Air Conditioners Can Be Life-Savers!
That’s right. Keeping a window unit air conditioner on can cost as little as $1.50 per day. Yet every year people with working air conditioners become needlessly sick or die because of hot weather.    To save money in using your air conditioner:
	Keep the unit on one comfortable setting.
	Use a timer or programmable thermostat.
	Seal off unused rooms.
	Turn the thermostat up when you leave the house for several days.
	Draw shades and curtains on hot days and keep a fan on to get the air circulating. For more, check out our online energy saving tips.
No air conditioning? Then find a cool place to stay. Be a Heat Buddy - get neighbors or friends to a cooling site.
Look out for elderly friends, neighbors or relatives who may not notice the signs of heat stress. Check on those who may not have or be able to use air conditioning. Never leave seniors, young children or pets in a parked car even for a few minutes—you could put them at risk for heat-related illness or even death. Be sure to lock your car when at home to keep children from climbing in and becoming trapped.
Cooling Sites Save Lives
For information on cooling sites, air conditioning units and financial assistance for energy bills, call 211. See the list of cooling sites available for the Metropolitan St. Louis area.     St. Louis County elderly residents can enroll in St. Louis County Health Department’s Telephone Reassurance Program that automatically calls elderly residents to ensure their well-being and allow them to remain in their homes longer. For more information: 314.615.4516.