Heat Preparedness
In July 2024, over a dozen people died due to extreme heat in Santa Clara County. Heat is deadly, know how to protect yourself and loved ones. It takes a minute and doesn’t cost a dime! Read below for information and resources on how to stay safe during extreme heat.
10 STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE HEAT:
- Use Air Conditioning if possible or go somewhere cool like a library, mall, or cooling center.
- Cool your home without A/C by closing blinds, doors, and windows; using ceiling fans; and putting ice or a damp towel in front of electric fans.
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat small, easy to digest meals (ex. fruits or salad) and eat more often. Avoid hot, heavy meals that include proteins, these increase your metabolism and water loss
- Avoid drinks that dehydrate you (caffeine, alcohol, sugary drinks)
- Avoid physical activity and being in the sun during the hottest part of the day 11am to 3pm. If you must be physically active, take breaks often indoors or in a shaded area.
- Never leave a person or animal in a car on a warm day, even in the shade, with windows partially open. It can be deadly!
- Keep animals hydrated and in shade; keep them off asphalt, concrete, and truck beds
- Know the signs of heat stroke: Hot, red, dry or damp skin; Fast, strong pulse; Headache; Dizziness; Vomiting/Nausea; Confusion; or Passing out.
- Check yourself, family, and neighbors for signs of heat related illness. If you suspect a heat stroke call 9-1-1 and cool the person down
5 STEPS FOR COOLING DOWN THE BODY
- Wear light and loose clothing and sleep with thin sheets and blankets
- Drench clothes in cold water or wear wet towels or bandanas on your head or shoulders
- Put hands and feet in cold water.
- Take cool showers or baths
- Mist head, neck, and shoulders with a spray bottle filled with cold water
5 STEPS FOR COOLING DOWN A HOME WITHOUT A/C
- Keep windows and doors closed during the hottest parts of the day (11am to 3pm); you can open them and, if possible, cross ventilate rooms if the temperature cools down at night.
- Cover windows during the day to protect from direct sunlight using blinds, curtains, external shutters, bed sheets or towels.
- Consider sleeping on a lower level of your home, as heat rises, or in the coolest room in your house. Close doors to keep cold air from escaping the room.
- Eliminate extra sources of heat by turning off lights, unplugging appliances when they are not in use, and turning on exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Know how to use fans effectively to cool the air
- Ceiling fans cool rooms by pushing air down
- Box fans can push hot air out of a room when they are pointed out of an open window.
- Portable and electric fans improve airflow but don’t cool the air during extreme heat. Place a cool damp towel, frozen water bottle, or ice in front of the fan in temperatures 95 degrees or higher to effectively cool the air.
More heat safety information: https://www.ready.gov/heat