Jun 24, 2024
Tips for keeping
kids, adults, and the elderly cool and safe — even without air conditioning.
The Earth has
never been so hot. The year 2023 was the globe’s warmest year on record.
Millions of people in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South are currently under
heat alerts. It’s not just the US: More than 1,300 people died in Saudi Arabia
during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Over 1,000 temperature records were broken
worldwide in June.
Extreme heat is
extremely dangerous, and can even be deadly. Heat is the leading
weather-related cause of death in the United States. Prolonged exposure to hot
temperatures can result in heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat cramps, sunburn,
and heat rash. Infants and young children, adults over the age of 65, people
who are overweight, and people who are on certain medications — like
amphetamines and antidepressants — are most at risk for heat-related illness.
People who work outside and are exposed to the sun and heat also are at greater
risk.
Children produce
more body heat and sweat less than adults, and tend to not stay as hydrated,
making them more sensitive to the heat. “Their skin is also vulnerable,” says
Joanna Cohen, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins
Children’s Center. “They can get sunburned more easily and sunburns actually
increase your body temperature and can contribute to overheating and
dehydration as well.”
Like children,
older adults don’t have as rapid or efficient a thermoregulatory response as
other adults, explains Raleigh Todman, an emergency medicine physician at
Columbia University Medical Center. The body doesn’t cool down as quickly as
the rest of the population, she says.
However,
everyone should take precautions to stay cool and hydrated during extreme heat.
When humidity exceeds 75 percent, the body’s ability to cool off by sweating is
not as effective, Todman says, making heat safety all the more important.
Here’s what to keep in mind.
Keep your home
and your body as cool as possible
One of the most
effective ways to fend off heat-related illness is to stay in an
air-conditioned building (even though air conditioning is a contributor to
climate change). According to the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey,
88 percent of US households use air conditioning. The survey also found that
half of households in the Northeast use individual AC units, like window and
wall units, mini-splits, and portable units.
You can lower
the temperature in your home by closing your shades to prevent the sunlight
from heating up the house and avoiding the use of your stove and oven. Electric
fans may feel nice, but will not prevent heat-related illness. If you have
individual air-conditioning units, try to contain the cold air to one area by
keeping the doors closed to one room.
Other at-home
ways of cooling down include avoiding exercise or strenuous activities, taking
a cool bath or shower, placing wet cloths or ice on your wrists, neck, and
temples, and wearing light-colored, loose-fitting fabrics like cotton and linen
— and dressing your children in loose, light clothes as well.
If your home
does not have air conditioning or if you still feel hot, find a cooling center
— an air-conditioned indoor location where the public can stay safe from the
heat — in your area by calling 211 and asking for information about local
cooling centers. Some states have lists of cooling centers online. Museums,
libraries, movie theaters, cafes, malls, and stores can offer respites from the
heat as well. Parents should remember to never leave children and pets
unattended in the car. Cohen suggests placing your purse or phone next to your
child or pet in the backseat as a double reminder to take them all with you.
Children may
want to take advantage of sunny days outdoors with trips to the park, beach, or
pool. Outdoor activities can be safe for children so long as there’s shade and
water available, Cohen says, like a pool, beach, or backyard or park with
sprinklers. “If they’re going to be doing exercise, like playing soccer
outside, they should take frequent breaks and go into the shade,” Cohen says.
“If they do start to get overheated, get inside in air conditioning, if you
can.”
Everyone,
regardless of age, should take plenty of rest breaks in the shade and wear
sunscreen and a hat if you’re spending time outdoors, though Todman suggests
avoiding going outside between noon and 4 pm. “If you need to do something and
you have your elderly parents and your baby and you need to go get groceries,”
Todman says, “if you can possibly do it in the morning before noon, or in the
afternoon after 4, that’s your best bet for avoiding the most direct sun and
the hottest part of the day.”
Aside from
avoiding the heat in a cool location, staying hydrated is another crucial
aspect of hot weather safety because it helps regulate your body temperature.
On hot days, you need to increase your water intake, even if you don’t feel
thirsty or aren’t physically exerting yourself. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated
beverages, which can contribute to dehydration. Try to consistently sip water
all day and encourage kids to always have a water bottle with them, Cohen says.
If your kids are resistant to drinking water, Todman suggests giving them
sports drinks or drinks with electrolytes, like Pedialyte, coconut water, and
Gatorade, and even milk, which will help replenish the electrolytes lost in
sweat. You’ll know if you’re properly hydrated if you use the bathroom every
two to three hours and your urine is light yellow; if it’s dark yellow or gold,
drink more water. One way to determine if children are dehydrated is by gently
pinching their skin. If they’re hydrated, the skin should bounce back, Todman
says, if they’re dehydrated, the skin will stay pinched.
Ideally,
everyone should drink 32 ounces of water a day, Todman says, although “I know
it’s not easy to convince elderly people or small children to drink that much
water.” People who work outside should drink one cup of water every 15 to 20
minutes (and ensure you’re wearing sunscreen). Cold treats and foods with a
high water content, like ice cream and watermelon, can keep you hydrated and
cool, Todman says.
Treat your pets
the same way you would a baby, Todman says: Don’t leave them outdoors, keep
them in the air conditioning, and always keep their water bowl filled.
Recognize the
signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke
If you, a family
member, or a neighbor start to exhibit signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke,
it’s important to recognize the symptoms and react swiftly.
According to the
CDC, symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
Heavy sweating
Cold, pale, clammy skin
Fast, weak pulse
Nausea or vomiting
Muscle cramps
Tiredness or weakness
Dizziness
Headache
Fainting
Here’s what to
do if you or someone else is experiencing heat exhaustion:
Move to a cool place
Loosen clothes
Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a
cool bath
Get medical help if you or someone else is
vomiting, or the symptoms get worse or persist for more than an hour
According to the
CDC, symptoms of heat stroke include:
Body temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit
or higher
Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
Fast, strong pulse
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Fainting
Here’s what to
do if you or someone else is experiencing heat stroke:
Call 911
Move the person to a cooler place
Put cool, wet cloths on their body or place
them in a cool bath
Do not give the person anything to drink
The signs of
heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the same for both adults and children,
Cohen says, but a baby or younger kid may not be able to vocalize how they’re
feeling. Ensure children are consistently drinking, urinating frequently, and
that they look alert.
Best practices
for dealing with extreme heat are to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous or
prolonged activities outdoors, keep your environment as cool as possible, and
ensure members of the community are doing the same. Keep in touch with elderly
neighbors or folks with young children or pets who may not have access to an
air-conditioned location.
“This sort of
neighborly mindfulness,” Todman says, “is something, if possible, to keep in
mind.”
No comments:
Post a Comment