What to Do If an Excessive Heat Warning Appears
If you’re in parts of Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, or Tennessee, you may have heard of an “excessive heat warning” when temperatures are forecast to top 100 degrees for several days. This is dangerous weather, so here’s what you need to know.
What is an excessive heat warning?
First, let’s talk about the difference between a “warning” and an observation or prediction. The warning is the most serious of the three. As the regular fire department famously explained, using the taco analogy , a taco clock means we have the ingredients to make tacos. A taco warning means you better get ready because we have tacos right now .
Here is how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration describes these three levels:
- An extreme heat forecast means that a heat wave could occur in the next three to seven days.
- The observation of a heat wave means that the weather conditions are such that an abnormal heat wave is likely in the next 24 to 72 hours.
- An extreme heat warning means that a dangerous level of heat will set in within the next 12-24 hours. The Red Cross says this means it’s time to “immediately take precautionary measures to avoid heat-related illnesses.”
- A heat warning means that hazardous heat conditions are already occurring.
You can check weather forecasts for your area by going to Weather.gov , which has a large old color-coded map on its home page.
How to avoid dehydration in the heat
Heat can be dangerous. If you get so hot that you can’t cool off, you’re susceptible to heat illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke .
So, when it comes to taking care of yourself and checking in on others, make sure:
- Stay hydrated . Drinking enough water allows your body to cool itself through sweating. Drink before you feel thirsty and drink plenty of water; Minimize sugary and alcoholic drinks.
- Get electrolytes . You lose sodium from the body when you sweat, but a normal meal is usually enough to replenish it. Sports drinks and electrolyte tablets are also convenient.
- Check with your doctor if you have a condition that requires you to closely monitor hydration or electrolytes. They can give you more specific advice on how much you should be drinking. Also ask if any of your medications might make you more susceptible to extreme heat; some may.
How to keep cool in the heat
First, stay in the conditioner for as long as you can. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, find places with air conditioning where you can spend your time. This could be the home of a friend or family member, or public places like the mall or library. Communities often install cooling stations to release heat. If you cannot find it, please contact your local health department.
When you need to go outside, wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and stay in the shade for as long as possible. Bring your water. Don’t forget your sunscreen if you’ll be out in the sun, and remember that not all sunscreens are sweat-proof .
Early morning and late evening will be the least hot times to be outside. Schedule time to rest in the shade as needed, for example, if you are going to the store on business.
Electric fans are great at keeping you cool if it’s moderately hot outside, but when temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher, the fan alone can’t provide enough cooling to prevent heat sickness . Turn on the air conditioner or take a cold shower or bath.
How to take care of loved ones in the heat
The same tips you use for yourself apply to others, including children, pets, and elderly neighbors. Never leave children or pets in a car in hot weather, even for a short time. Double check when you get out of the car that everyone is out.
If you know people who don’t have air conditioning, be sure to check them out. An estimated 80% of extreme heat deaths are in people aged 60 and over , so be sure to check the older people in your life. Find out if they can keep cool or if they need a trip to a cooling station. Check out their pets too.
The Red Cross advises checking older people and people with chronic illnesses at least twice a day and asking the following questions:
- Are they drinking enough water?
- Do they have access to air conditioning?
- Do they know how to keep their cool?
- Do they show any signs of heat stress?
Know the signs of heat sickness
Heat exhaustion happens when we can’t cool off enough. This is not yet an emergency, but could get worse quickly. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and weakness can occur with heat exhaustion. The skin is usually cold, pale, clammy and sweaty. If you’re vomiting from the heat or your symptoms last for more than an hour, it’s time to seek medical attention.
Heatstroke is the next stage, and it’s an emergency. Call 911 if someone has a high temperature (over 103), if they are acting confused or drunk, if they are unconscious, or if they have stopped sweating and have hot and reddened skin. The CDC has more information here .
In any case, it is important to cool the person down. (If you call 911, do this while you wait for help.) Unfasten your clothes and take a cold bath or shower, or place a cool, damp towel on the victim. You can offer them a sip of water if they have heat exhaustion, but skip this step if they show signs of heat exhaustion.
If it’s all too much to remember, the Red Cross has a printed fact sheet that includes tips for staying cool and a chart with symptoms and recommended first aid for heat illness. It is also available in Spanish .