Extreme Hitze

Worum es geht

Extreme heat is a period of unusually high heat, often with high humidity, that lasts two days or more. It kills more people in the US each year than any other weather, and the danger is greatest when nights stay hot too.

Wer gefährdet ist

Older adults, babies and young children, pregnant people, outdoor workers, people with heart, lung or kidney disease, people who take certain medicines, and anyone without air conditioning.

Jetzt vorsorgen

1. Find out where your nearest cooling center or air-conditioned public place is.
2. Check your air conditioning works before summer, and plan what you will do if the power goes out.
3. Ask a doctor whether any medicines in your home make heat more dangerous.
4. Cover windows that get morning or afternoon sun with drapes or shades.
5. Plan to check on older neighbors and relatives during a heat wave.
6. Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Wenn es passiert

1. Stay in air conditioning as much as you can. Fans alone may not prevent heat illness when it is very hot.
2. Drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty.
3. Avoid hard work outside, especially in the afternoon. Wear light, loose clothing.
4. Never leave children or pets in a parked car, even for a minute.
5. Heat stroke is an emergency: call 911 for a high body temperature, confusion, or hot, red skin. Cool the person while you wait.
6. For heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea), move to a cool place, loosen clothing and sip water.

Danach

1. Keep drinking water and resting; heat illness can show up later.
2. Check on people who live alone.
3. Throw out food that spoiled if the power went out.

Offizielle Quellen

• Ready.gov: Extreme heat
• National Weather Service: Heat safety
• CDC: Heat and health
• American Red Cross: Heat wave safety

Dieser Ratgeber fasst öffentliche Empfehlungen zusammen. Folgen Sie immer den Anweisungen der Behörden und Rettungsdienste vor Ort.