After a brief, rainy reprieve, the heat is coming back for the rest of the week.
The National Weather Service is predicting highs in the 90s until Sunday, with daytime temperatures nearing 100. Blazing sunlight and high humidity will only make the heat more miserable: the heat index (what temperature it feels like) is predicted to top out at 107 degrees.
Heat kills hundreds of Americans, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Risk factors include age (the very young and those above 65 are most vulnerable), poverty (homelessness or a lack of access to adequate air conditioning), being an outdoor laborer, and medical conditions such as heart disease or being overweight.
From the CDC and the American Red Cross, here are some tips about how to keep your family and neighbors healthy through the upcoming heat wave.
Preparation
The ARC suggests staying tuned in to local weather forecasts and planning your days accordingly. That could mean choosing the early morning instead of the late evening to do yard work. Stock up on supplies like frozen treats, sports drinks with electrolytes, and fans.
This is a good time to get crafty and build your own cooling devices. The internet is loaded with do-it-yourself instructions of varying complexity. A few examples can be found at bit.ly/2XPpOAY.
Check in on vulnerable neighbors and friends and make sure they have a plan and someone to call if they need help. If you do have air conditioning, but have friends or family who don't, consider inviting them over to cool off.
Also, read up on the symptoms and treatment of heat-related illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The ARC has a good summary at rdcrss.org/2SlpI2B. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include muscle cramps, fatigue, a headache, dizziness/fainting and nausea. If untreated, it can progress to heat stroke - which can cause organ failure and death.
To treat heat exhaustion, move the person to a cooler environment. Remove the person's outer garments and place cold, wet towels against their skin. Allowing air to circulate across the skin (with a fan or air conditioning) also helps. Give the person cool fluid - fruit juice and sports drinks help restore electrolytes, but water will do.
If the person's symptoms don't improve, they pass out, vomit or refuse water, the ARC suggests calling 911 for medical help. If the person shows signs of heat stroke, like an extremely high body temperature, shallow breathing, seizures or a rapid weak pulse, call 911 immediately and apply ice packs to their skin.
Surviving
Once the heat arrives, it's a matter of hunkering down and making it through. Make sure to drink plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids, and ensure your children and pets are doing the same. Eat enough food - your body needs energy to fight the heat.
Don't leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles. If you lack air conditioning at home, seek out places to stay cool: stores, libraries and movie theaters. Fulton's Splash Pad is free to visit, too.
If you must go outdoors, put on loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Lighter colors reflect heat, helping you stay cool. It might be counter-intuitive, but long sleeves are actually better at reflecting heat and drawing sweat away from the skin than short sleeves - that's why people in desert societies tend to wear long, loose robes. Take frequent breaks when working outdoors.
Check in on your vulnerable friends, neighbors and family members.