Heat: During the Heat Wave

What should I do?

The following are guidelines for what you should do if the weather is extremely hot:

• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit your exposure to sun.
• Stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine, if air conditioning is not available.
• Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation.
• Eat regular, light, well-balanced meals and limit your intake of alcoholic beverages.
• Drink plenty of water. People who have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
• Protect your face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
• Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
• Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use the buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.

Heat wave safety tips

Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

Dress for summer. Lightweight light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain a normal temperature.

Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.

Drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty. Persons who (1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease, (2) are on fluid restrictive diets or (3) have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.

Do not drink alcoholic beverages. Instead, drink cool beverages such as water frequently throughout the day.

Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, spending some time each day (during hot weather) in an air-conditioned environment affords some protection.

Don't get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.

Know your terms

Heat wave: A prolonged period of excessive heat, often combined with excessive humidity.

While the criteria may vary depending on location, two kinds of alerts are generally issued during periods of extreme heat:

Heat advisory: Issued when heat, or a combination of heat and humidity, is expected to become an inconvenience for much of the population and a problem for some in the affected area.

Excessive heat warning: Issued when heat, or a combination of heat and humidity, is expected to become dangerous for a large portion of the population in the affected area.