TThe Midwest and East Coast are in the middle of a heat dome, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Heat waves are getting hotter as global warming leads to more extreme weather, and 2023 was the hottest year on record. Some scientists to say 2024 is expected to be even hotter overall.
As temperatures rise, so do concerns about heat-related illnesses. According to the National Weather Service, heat kills more people in the US than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined. Doctors are also still learning how poor sleep quality on hot days can increase symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Here’s a brief guide to preventing heat exhaustion and heatstroke—and what U.S. cities are doing to help residents stay safe.
Why is heat so dangerous?
It’s easy to see the effects of the sun on the skin, as excessive sun exposure can cause large red burns or rashes. And sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. However, inside the body, heat stress on various organs can also cause long-term health problems. For example, dehydration can impair the kidneys’ ability to excrete toxins, increasing the risk of kidney stones, kidney disease, and even obesity.
How hot is too hot? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration insta Be careful when the temperature starts to rise above 80ºF. The time of day to avoid the heat as much as possible is between 10am and 4pm
Read more about the dangers of heat:
What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
Heat exhaustion is a serious illness that people should watch out for during a heat wave. Some of the most common symptoms of heat exhaustion include nausea, vomiting, fainting, slurred speech, physical weakness, headache, heart palpitations, and clammy skin. People who experience these symptoms should be immediately moved to an air-conditioned location. They should remove heavy clothing, shoes and socks and wipe themselves with cloths dampened with cold water, especially on the neck and face areas. Small, frequent sips of electrolyte-based fluids are encouraged.
O guidelines for children are similar. Adults, children and babies should wear sunglasses, light-colored clothing and wide-brimmed hats to protect themselves from the sun. Babies don’t sweat as much as adults, so when the heat index is like this week’s for much of the US – over 100 degrees – they should stay indoors, in a controlled climate, for most of the day. .
Furry pets also struggle with the heat. For dog walks on the sidewalk, boots can protect the dog’s paws. There should be plenty of pet water bowls around the house or in shady outdoor areas – but not metal bowls that overheat easily. Shelters often Have plastic pools filled with water everywhere so dogs can jump in to cool off.
Heatstroke, in turn, is the most serious of heat-related illnesses. The body stops sweating. Victims may experience convulsions or hallucinations. Calling 911 is essential so that the person can receive an IV drip to rehydrate. As W. Larry Kenney, a professor of physiology and kinesiology at Penn State University who studies human temperature regulation, told TIME, heatstroke patients often “don’t know where they are, how they got there, they don’t know what day it is. Eventually, they may lose consciousness, and if their body temperature continues to rise, they will eventually die.”
See more information: How to monitor and stay safe in extreme heat using the CDC’s new HeatRisk tool
How to cool off
There are many ways to stay cool at home, from blackout curtains that block sunlight from entering the space to ceiling fans that keep air circulating. In terms of staying cool during exercise, runners may want to slow down and opt for a run or a walk in a shaded forest – or switch to an indoor option like yoga.
Here are some of TIME’s top tips for staying calm:
What cities and states are doing to help
On a larger scale, municipalities in the affected region are taking steps to help residents stay safe.
Even before this latest heat wave began, Chicago opened its cooling centers in libraries, sports facilities and senior centers — air-conditioned buildings for residents to sit and cool down.
Like New York Times According to reports, paramedics in Arizona and Texas are making overheated people climb into so-called “dunk bags” filled with ice from the chest down — a common tactic for overheated soldiers or athletes. People stay in bags for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that several public pools would open earlier than planned and that state parks and beaches would be free on June 19 and 20 so residents could jump into the sea to beat the heat. Water sprayers are also being added to parks across the state, as experts recommend leaving clothes a little damp to keep them cool.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
