How to stay cool without air conditioning as heat wave grips US
More than two dozen states are experiencing a dangerous heat wave this week.
As a dangerous heat wave blankets more than two dozen states this week, more people are looking for various ways to stay cool.
One of the top ways to beat the heat is to access air conditioning at home, at a cooling center or at a common space with air conditioning, like a public library or shopping mall for at least two hours a day. When AC isn’t available, there are still ways to cool down.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends seeking out shady areas both outdoors and indoors, away from direct sunlight. The National Weather Service notes that the heat index, or what the temperature feels like with humidity, can increase by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit when under direct sun.
Other cooling strategies from the CDC and World Health Organization include:
Use cooling aids such as cooling towels and water sprays that provide skin relief when wet.
Use a fan, if one is available. Using a fan when it is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, however, can increase body temperature.
When using a ceiling fan, make sure the fan blades are rotating in a counterclockwise direction to create a cooling effect, according to Efficiency Vermont, the state's energy efficiency utility.
Avoid or limit outdoor activities until later in the day or evening or when it is cooler outside.
Take regular breaks from physical activities. Avoid or postpone strenuous activities and tasks.
Wear lightweight, loose and light-colored clothing and a brimmed hat.
Drink plenty of water, at least a cup of water each hour, to stay hydrated throughout the day, not only when you feel thirsty.
Avoid or limit cooking or use of a hot oven or stove in the home. Use exhaust fans to pull hot air out.
Take cool showers or baths.
Cover windows and use shades during hot, daylight hours.
When temperatures are cooler at night, keep windows open to draw in cooler air.
Keep unnecessary electrical appliances and devices off. Limit use to cooler, nighttime hours.
During a heat wave, it’s also important to remember to check on family members, friends, neighbors, pets and in particular, children, older adults and people with chronic conditions or illnesses and those who live alone.
Also, recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and overheating, which can make one’s pre-existing mental and physical health worse. Extreme heat can also cause kidney injuries.
Heat exhaustion can happen when one sweats excessively and the body loses salt and water, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include a headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, increased body temperature and less urine output.
During extreme heat events, people may also experience heat stroke, which the CDC notes is when the body can no longer regulate its temperature and body temperature rises quickly, up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, within 10 to 15 minutes.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires a rapid response. Call 911 if you suspect anyone near you is suffering from heat stroke.
Watch out for heat stroke symptoms such as confusion, altered mental state, slurred speech, loss of consciousness (coma), hot, dry skin or profuse sweating, seizures, and very high body temperature.