Hey Greenwich! Did You Know ... Weather Delays Greenwich HS Graduation?

Today is Wednesday, June 20, 2012 and it's National Vanilla Milkshake Day.

Today's birthdays:

• Actress Nicole Kidman is 45.
• Actor John Goodman is60.
• Singer Anne Murray is 67.
• Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson is 70.
• Actor Danny Aiello is 79.

This Day in History:

In 1863, during the Civil War, West Virginia is admitted into the Union as the 35th U.S. state, or the 24th state if the secession of the 11 Southern states were taken into account. The same day, Arthur Boreman was inaugurated as West Virginia's first state governor.

In 1975, Jaws, a film directed by a young director, 27-year-old Steven Spielberg, made countless viewers afraid to go into the water when it opened in theaters.

In 1977, with the flip of a switch in Prudhoe Bay, crude oil from the nation's largest oil field begins flowing south down the trans-Alaska pipeline to the ice-free port of Valdez, Alaska.

Things you should know:

Baby it's going to be hot outside!

The National Weather Service says today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 100. Some may think it's a rather fitting tribute to the first day of summer officially begins at 7:09 p.m.

And that forecast, officials announced that the start of tonight's Greenwich High School graduation ceremony will be delayed until 7 p.m.

All of the festivites will still be held at Cardinal Stadium on the Hillside Road campus.

There are 634 graduates in this year's class which selected author Lee Woodruff as their keynote speaker. (Greenwich Patch will have complete coverage of the graduation.)

The hot, humid weather is expected to continue Thursday and Friday, with a high temperature of 98 predicted.

And with that, the Town of Greenwich has issued a heat advisory and the state of Connecticut has issued a health alert because of unhealthy air quality conditions.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) forecasts unhealthy air quality for “sensitive groups” on Wednesday and Thursday, due to elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution along the Connecticut coastline including  Fairfield County. 

A forecast of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” indicates increased likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults with respiratory disease, such as asthma. (Link to current Air Quality Levels in CT: http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&stateid=7)

The health advisory issued by the Greenwich Health Department includes this advice:

Medical Conditions Attributable to Excessive Heat Exposure

Heat stroke – Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency.  Call for emergency medical assistance immediately by dialing 9-1-1.  If possible, move the person into a cool or air-conditioned environment.  Signs of heat stroke may include headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, high body temperature, difficulty breathing, rapid and strong pulse.  Skin may be hot and dry or the person may be sweating.  Reduce body temperature with air-conditioning, fanning, water sponging and remove clothing if necessary.  Avoid giving fluids.

Heat exhaustion – This condition will give rise to heavy sweating, weakness and cool, pale clammy skin.  The person may experience muscle cramps, dizziness, fainting, nausea and vomiting.  Although body temperature may be normal there will be a weak pulse.  Move the person out of the sun into a cool environment and apply a cool wet cloth while they are lying down.  Give sips of water until feeling better, however if vomiting continues, seek immediate medical attention.

Heat cramps – This condition will give rise to painful cramps and muscle spasms in the legs or abdomen.  Heavy sweating may also be present.  Move the person out of the heat into a cool environment and gently massage the cramping muscle.  Give sips of water unless nausea occurs or there are fluid restrictions.

Here are some common-sense practices the health department says should be followed:.

• Keep children and pets inside, except for brief stays outdoors.  Always avoid direct sunlight exposure
• If you don’t have to go out, stay indoors.  Spend time in air-conditioning if possible.  Electric fans can also be used to exhaust air from rooms.  Do not use them to blow air on yourself.
• Avoid strenuous activities as much as possible.  Early morning and evening hours are best if you must exercise
• Drink plenty of fluids regardless of your activity.  Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or those with large amounts of sugar and salt.  Those who are on a restricted fluid intake should check with their physician
• Wear lightweight, light colored and loose fitting clothing
• Never leave any person or pet in a parked vehicle
• Don’t leave food items in the car or outdoors – food spoils quickly
• Take a cool shower, bath or move into an air conditioned space to cool off
• Eat light, cool, easy to digest foods
• Rest often in shady areas, especially if you are working outdoors
• Wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen with UV protection of 15 or higher.  Always follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Visit or regularly check on:

• infants and young children
• people over age 65 and frail elderly
• those who have a medical condition (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, obesity, high blood pressure, liver disease, kidney disease) or mental illness (cognitive and psychiatric disorders)

The health department also advises spending a few hours in an air conditioned location to help your body stay cooler. If you don’t have air conditioning, try:

• Spending time with friends or family members who do
• Visit
• Visit shopping malls
• Go to the movies

For more information contact the Greenwich Department of Health by calling 622-7836 or at www.greenwichct.org

The National Weather Service forecast through the weekend:

• Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Northwest wind between 7 and 9 mph.
• Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Northwest wind between 5 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. 
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
• Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Meetings today at Greenwich Town Hall:

Greenwich Community Television

If you prefer the clicker instead of being there or want to catch up on a Greenwich meeting you missed, there's Greenwich Community Television (GCTV) on either Fios Channel 24 or Cablevision's Channel 79.

And if you prefer the movies:

Sources: history.com; famousbirthdays.com