How to stay safe during an extreme heatwave


A Heat wave in Europe It broke record temperatures in June and killed dozens. High temperatures are expected to reach the eastern United States this week, and you’ll need to be careful to protect yourself and your family from the heat.

National Weather Service Forecasters predict A long-lasting heatwave in the central and eastern United States is likely to last through the July 4th weekend. Meteorologists expect temperatures to be in the 90s and low to 100s degrees Fahrenheit along with high humidity. This means that heat indexes are near or above 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

This means that there will be no relief even in the hours when the sun is not at its strongest. “Overnight lows will also be very warm, with some record high lows likely, which won’t bring much relief from the overnight heat,” forecasters wrote. Those could be nighttime temperatures Equally dangerous Such as three-digit highs.

If you have underlying health conditions, the heat can make them worse if you’re not careful.

Heat waves are made worse by climate change caused largely by the burning of fossil fuels. Analysis conducted by European climate scientists In this week’s heatwave, a similar event was found in 1976 that would have been about 3.5 degrees Celsius cooler, and one in 2003 was found to be about 2 degrees cooler. “This summer shows that at 1.4 degrees Celsius of global warming, extreme heat is already reaching the limits of our societies’ ability to adapt,” the scientists wrote.

As temperatures rise this week, it’s important to stay safe and alert to all weather warnings. This may mean staying in and changing your plans or taking extra precautions if you have no choice but to stay outside. In extreme heat situations, listening to experts on how to protect yourself can be a matter of life or death.

A person holds a portable fan while walking near Big Ben in London during a heatwave.

Temperatures in London have reached 36.4 degrees Celsius, or more than 97 degrees Fahrenheit, as Europe faces a deadly heatwave. Temperatures are expected to rise in the eastern and central United States this week.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Watch the temperature

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has HeatRisk tracker Which gives you your daily risk level based on your zip code, plus tips to help manage your health in the heat. Pay attention to your Weather app For temperatures and weather alerts. You may also see the temperature you feel, which can be higher than the “official” temperature due to humidity and other factors.

During heatwaves, you might expect nighttime temperatures to drop, but sometimes they don’t drop enough to provide real relief. Cooler nighttime temperatures give your body a chance to reset itself from the heat that can affect your body. But when temperatures remain high, your body does not have this opportunity, which can be dangerous to your health. So, even when the sun goes down, continue to pay attention to how hot it is — and not just outside your home.

Make sure your home is cool

Keeping your home cool is essential to protecting your health during a heatwave Keep your pets safe And protect loved ones from extremely warm temperatures.

“Stay in the coolest area of ​​your home as much as possible,” said CNET editor Corinne Cesarek-Eby. “The National Weather Service also warns against exposure to direct sunlight because it may lead to sunburn, making it difficult for your body to cool down.”

Air conditioning your home is the most common way to ensure you stay comfortable and safe.

Cesaric-Epple’s team and CNET’s Labs have reviewed more than a dozen Portable and window air conditioning units I found that the window units had optimal cooling performance. Energy Star models can also keep you cool while using less electricity.

If you’re not in the market for a new air conditioning unit, there are others Tips to keep your home cool. Consider keeping your curtains closed to prevent sunlight from warming your home. Use weatherproofing or other materials to seal any gaps around doors and windows to keep cold air in and hot, humid air out.

Stay hydrated

It is especially important to stay hydrated during heatwaves. Dehydration can be dangerous because your body needs sweat to stay cool. Drink water regularly and take water with you when you go out. the Center for Disease Control She recommends drinking eight ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes when working outside in the heat. You should drink in short intervals rather than consuming a large amount at once. Most importantly, the CDC does not recommend drinking more than 48 ounces of water per hour.

CNET has more tips to help you stay cool this weekend and throughout the summer, including a Hand fan We recommend helping you stay calm, and Signs of heat illness Must be careful of it.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *