Tips to stay cool and safe as temperatures approach 100 - PennLive

In case you haven’t felt it already today: It’s going to be hot this week. By Sunday, the temperature will feel like it’s over 100.

Now’s a good time to go over important safety tips for high temperatures - particularly for the very old, the very young, and pets.

High temperatures can be dangerous, particularly for those groups, but these tips are also good for anyone of any age suffering through 90 degrees and above for several days in a row.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health both have lists of hot weather tips that will surely come in handy, starting with the basics:

• Stay indoors.
• Dress for hot weather, particularly with lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothes. If outdoors, also consider hats and sunglasses.
• Plan to do any outdoor activities either early in the day or in the late afternoon or evening, to avoid the hottest time of day.
• Carefully monitor any exercise you partake in, and take it slower and less intense than you normally would.
• Wear sunscreen for any amount of prolonged outdoor activity.
• Avoid hot or heavy meals.
• Stay hydrated. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water.
• Anyone working outside should drink between two and four cups of water every hour they’re in high heat conditions
• Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated or sugary drinks. Minerals lost to sweat can be replaced with sports drinks.

Six-year-old Lilly Martinez stops to get a drink in between chasing her 4-year-old sister, Leia Martinez, on Tuesday afternoon, July 19, 2022, at the Craighead Forest Park splash pad in Jonesboro, Ark. (Nena Zimmer/The Jonesboro Sun via AP)AP

The following groups are at particular risk during heat waves:

• Infants and young children
• People 65 and older
• People who are overweight
• People who overexert during work or exercise
• People who are ill, have heart conditions or high blood pressure, and people who take certain medications for depression, insomnia or poor circulation

There are also these important warning signs of heat-related medical conditions, followed by the health considerations for each:

Heat stroke comes with a high body temperature (103 degrees or higher), hot or reddish skin (which can be damp or dry), a fast and strong pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and loss of consciousness.

• Call 911 immediately.
• Move the person to a cooler place.
• Help to lower their temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath.
• Do not give them anything to drink.

Heat exhaustion comes with heavy sweating, cold, pale and clammy skin, a fast but weak pulse, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headaches and fainting.

• Move the person to a cooler place.
• Loosen their clothes if possible.
• Sip water.
• Put cool, wet clothes on or take a cool back.
• Call 911 if the person is throwing up, symptoms get worse or last longer than one hour.

Heat cramps come with heavy sweating during intense exercise, as well as muscle pain or spasms.

• Stop physical activity and move to a cooler place.
• Drink water or a sports drink.
• Wait for cramps to stop before returning to activity.
• Call 911 if cramps last longer for an hour, you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet.

Sunburn leaves skin blistered with painful red areas that are very warm.

• Stay out of the sun until the sunburn heals.
• Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath.
• Use moisturizing lotion on sunburnt areas.
• Do not break any blisters caused by sunburn.

Heat rash is a cluster of small blisters that may look like pimples, particularly around the neck, chest, groin or in the creases of the elbow.

• Stay in a cool, dry place and keep the rash dry.
• Use baby powder or similar products to soothe the rash.

The National Weather Service also reiterated the dangers of heat for children, the elderly, the disabled and for pets, as well as pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses.

Do not ever leave children or pets in a vehicle, but particularly during a heat wave. The NWS also advises people with toddlers to keep their cars locked while parked to make sure that very young children don’t climb inside.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission also has a list of several simple steps that can help people stay cool inside, while also avoiding cranking the air conditioning and possibly saving you some money in utility bills.

They recommend the following:

• Use fans to keep air circulating.
• Spend time in rooms that don’t receive direct sunlight.
• Use blinds and window coverings at the sunniest times of the day to block sunlight.
• Avoid using appliances that create heat. Ovens, stoves and clothes dryers are the most obvious, but dishwashers also generate a lot of heat while running.
• Cook outdoors or with a microwave if you can to avoid building up heat from indoor cooking.
• If you are using air conditioners, make sure you clean out the filters so they run more efficiently.
• Close the doors to unused rooms.

See also: How can I keep my house cool during a heat wave? | Ask Angi

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