More than 91 million Americans across the South and Southwest were subject to heat alerts from the National Weather Service on Tuesday, and 79 million of them were expected to experience dangerous heat – defined by the agency as a heat index greater than 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
(The heat index combines heat and humidity. For example, if the temperature is 98°F, the heat index will still be dangerous if the relative humidity is greater than 40%.)
Cities with dangerous heat indices include Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, and Houston and Austin, Texas, which all have it’s been suffocating under a persistent heat dome for weeks.
On Tuesday, Phoenix recorded 19 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 110°F, breaking your previous record of 18 days, set in 1974. Due to climate change and El Niño, several days this month were the the hottest in the world on record.
These are the dangers of extreme heat and how to minimize them.
The threat to health
These high temperatures, especially when combined with high humidity — which prevents sweat evaporationthe body’s cooling mechanism – can cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and increase the risk of conditions such as heart failure.
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the United States, killing an average of 700 people per year and causing more than 67,000 annual emergency room visits, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This is the worst summer in recent memory,” said Frank LoVecchio, an emergency room doctor at a hospital in Phoenix. told NBC Newsadding that his hospital is overcrowded because 20% of current patients are there for heat-related illnesses.
These numbers are likely an undercountsays the CDC, because heat-related deaths are often misclassified.
Who is most vulnerable
Because heat strains the heart and respiratory system, people with respiratory or cardiovascular problems are at risk. high risk heat, as well as people whose bodies are less able to regulate temperature, such as babies, pregnant women and the elderly.
Low-income urban areas, which have more sidewalks, fewer trees, and less grass, can be up to 20 degrees warmer than nearby suburbs, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. People with lower incomes, who are more likely to not have air conditioning at home, are more likely to suffer of heat-related illnesses.
People who work outdoors are more exposed to heat, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration says workers exposed to extreme heat are more likely to suffer dangerous accidents, such as falling from a roof or handling machinery incorrectly. The Republican-led Texas Legislature recently Workplace thermal safety requirements nullified in Dallas and Austin, leaving workers without legal water guarantees.
How to prevent health problems
The NWS and other meteorological and public health authorities recommend the following key strategies to beat the heat:
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Drink lots of water, whether you feel thirsty or not. Avoid alcohol, which increases dehydration.
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Avoid strenuous activities. If you have to exercise or work outside, try to do it early or late in the day, when temperatures are lower.
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Use sunscreen to avoid sunburn, which contributes to dehydration and makes it difficult for the body to cool down.
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Stay in air-conditioned places. “If your house doesn’t have air conditioning, go to the mall or the public library,” the CDC advises. If you don’t have access to air conditioning, a cold shower or bath can help.
Know your risk
You can check the heat index at Heat.gova website launched by the Biden administration last year as part of your efforts to combat the growing threat of extreme heat.
Dehydration is one of the main risks of extreme heat. If you don’t drink enough fluids to cool your body through sweat, your body temperature can rise and cause heatstroke, a potentially deadly condition in which your body becomes too hot can damage your brain, heart and kidneys.
Pay attention to the symptoms of heat exhaustion, which appears earlier and can turn into heatstroke if left untreated. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness and weakness.
If you are sweating a lot and your body temperature is hot, or if you develop symptoms of heatstroke such as vomiting, red skin, rapid breathing, or fast heartbeat, treat it immediately.
What to do if you have symptoms
For heat exhaustion, the Mayo Clinic advises you to lie down with your legs elevated above your heart and drink water or sports drinks. If possible, take a cool shower, go into a body of water, or apply towels soaked in cold water to your body.
If symptoms do not improve within an hour, or if you experience heatstroke, take a cold shower or apply ice packs to quickly lower your body temperature and seek emergency medical treatment.
