Operation Fan Heat Relief provides free fans to eligible residents
By: Jess Schnur
The Chronicle
On Monday, May 5, the Forsyth County Department of Social Services will be distributing electric fans to qualifying residents as part of Operation Fan Heat Relief (OFHR). To be eligible for the program, one must be a resident of Forsyth County, aged 60 years or older, or be an adult with a disability, and must have a home situation where a heat-related threat to health and well-being is posed.
According to data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), last summer in 2024, there were 4,688 heat-related illness emergency department visits, including 697 in the Triad.
Among those who suffer from heat-related illnesses, children, low-income earners, outdoor workers, Indigenous communities, communities of color, and the elderly (65 years and older) are disproportionately affected.
For older individuals and those with chronic conditions and disabilities, they are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature and more likely to be hospitalized for heat-related illnesses.
Fans will be distributed while supplies last, and those interested will need apply online at https://tinyurl.com/ykz9vy77 to be eligible. For more information, call the Department of Social Services Adult Services at (336) 703-3501.
