In a public service project titled "Make Summer Bearable," Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and other businesses warn Oklahomans of the dangers of heat illness and offer tips to avoid the serious, yet often overlooked condition.
 
Residents, business owners and others are encouraged to visit http://bit.ly/ajhj7x to download a free poster.
 
The poster reminds citizens that drinking plenty of water, wearing loose clothing, minimizing physical stress in the heat, and staying out of the heat when possible are great ways to prevent heat illness.
 
The public is encouraged to keep a copy of the poster as a safety measure to avoid, recognize, and respond to symptoms of heat-related illness.
The poster lists the signs of heat illness and advises what to do in situations such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
 
The poster was created by a collaboration of PSO, EMSA, the Tulsa Health Department, the Salvation Army, the Oklahoma City County Health Department, 2-1-1, and the American Red Cross. It is available for free at http://bit.ly/ajhj7x.
 
PSO uses the flier to remind citizens that turning off air conditioning to save money can be dangerous, and that air conditioning is a necessary precaution to avoid heat illness.
 
PSO says that if someone is having difficulty paying for electricity, he or she should not stop using their air conditioner, but instead seek help by calling 1-888-216-3523 to set up a payment arrangement. The contact number is available on the poster.
 
PSO, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), is an electric utility company serving approximately 530,000 customers in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma. Based in Tulsa, PSO has 4,405 megawatts of generating capacity, and is the largest provider of wind energy in the state. News releases and other information about PSO can be found on the World Wide Web at www.PSOklahoma.com.