When the heat is on, there are simple ways you can stay safe. The National Weather Service provides these tips for protecting yourself and others from heat waves and heat-related deaths.
- Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. If you must work outside, stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade as often as possible.
- Indoors: Check up on the elderly, sick and those without air conditioning.
- Vehicles: Never leave children, disabled adults or pets unattended in a vehicle. Look before you lock. Studies have shown that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for children, pets and even adults. Leaving windows slightly open does not significantly decrease the heating rate. The younger the child, the more severe the effects because their bodies have not developed the ability to efficiently regulate internal temperature.
Health dangers
During extremely hot and humid weather, your body’s ability to cool itself is challenged. When the body heats too rapidly to cool itself properly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating, your body temperature rises and you may experience a heat-related illness.
It is important to know the symptoms of excessive heat exposure and the appropriate responses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a list of warning signs and symptoms of heat illness, and recommended first aid steps.
Get more heat-related safety tips and resources from the National Weather Service at weather.gov/safety/heat.