Surviving the Next Heat Wave
By Carolyn Nicolaysen

Hot enough for ya? The New York Times has a cheap, easy solution for cooling off: the heat wave haircut! The paper calls summer "scalping season" and says that barbershops have been flooded as the temperatures have been rising — with men shaving off their entire head of hair, beards included. They say "half measures are no longer sufficient" and the phrase "a little off the top" has gone out the window. One barber estimated that on a hot day 15 to 25 folks come in for the $14 "zero cut," which is pretty self-explanatory. Even women are joining in, as one shop noted the fairer sex had been coming in for a "Sinead O'Connor" to help them cope with the heat and humidity.

1. It's O.K. to raid your 72 hour kit … That's right, 72 hour kits are not just for earthquakes and hurricanes, but for any emergency. Your kit should include Instant Cold Packs . Now is the time to use these to help cool an overheated person or to help cool the body so you can sleep. Place them on the neck or forehead for the best results.

   Mylar Blankets placed in the sunniest windows will cut down on the heat entering your home. Move the blankets as the sun moves or just leave them in place. These blankets are also large enough to cover a sliding door without piecing. You will be amazed at how quickly the temperature in a room will drop when you cover your windows with these blankets. Mylar blankets are also great to use outdoors to create shade as they reflect the sun's rays.

2. Get wet. Take a shower and don't dry your hair, take a dip in the pool and don't dry off (if the pool is in the sun don't stay in too long), run through the sprinkler, keep a spray bottle nearby and mist your face (also great for your complexion), use wet compresses on your neck or head, keep a wet washcloth by your bed to cool yourself through the night, wrap your head in a wet bandanna, or soak your feet.

3. Drink lots of water. One question. Do you have water stored? If there were a heat wave next week accompanied by rolling blackouts or a power outage, would you have water available to drink? If you get bored with water, drink lemonade or juices, but never anything with caffeine or alcohol because these will raise your body temperature. Sodas will only increase your thirst. Popsicles are also a great way to stay hydrated. If you are thirsty, you have waited too long to drink.

4. Eat cold foods. This is the time to eat sandwiches, salads and other foods that are not heated. Avoid large portions of protein foods because they will increase body temperature. Eat smaller, more frequent meals.

5. Cook outdoors if you feel you must have a hot meal. You can do just about anything on your outdoor grill that you can do on your stove. Take out a skillet, a griddle, and a pot to prepare your meal outdoors. Be sure to keep your grill ten feet from the house to avoid a house fire. Crockpot cooking is also a great way to keep the heat outside. Just take the whole thing outside and (if you have electricity) plug it into an outlet on the patio. If you don't have outside spaces, plug in your crock pot in a room you are not using such as the laundry room.

6. Keep blinds and curtains closed.

7. Move activities, including eating and sleeping, to the coolest room in the house. This will normally be on the lowest level of your home and in a room with an exposure that does not receive direct sunlight.

8. This is one time when you shouldn't be concerned with how much television the family watches. Play board games or read, but don't be too active.

9. Use your outdoor umbrellas outside the windows receiving direct sun. Outdoor canopies, tarps, and dining flies also work well.

10. Wear loose, light colored clothing.

11. Install ceiling fans and/or sit next to a fan. Remember fans do not cool the air; they only move it. You become cooler as the moisture on your skin evaporates. This is the reason you want to stay wet!

12. Work outside early in the day, before 11:00 AM or late in the day, after 7:00PM.

13. Skip the exercise routine. Even if you exercise indoors, be careful not to get overheated before going outside.

14. Go shopping! No kidding. Go to the grocery store or mall and window shop. Under some circumstances they may have the air conditioning temperature set high and it may not be cooler, but if it is, shop slowly. Taking in a movie or going bowling are also “cool” pastimes.

15. The elderly, young children, pregnant women and those taking diuretics are most vulnerable to heat-related emergencies. If members of your family are taking any medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine if they are more susceptible to the affects of the heat.

16. Check on housebound and elderly — neighbors and friends — and get them to a cooler location. Be sure there is a plan for their care when the center closes. Many centers close for the night. Nighttime can be the most dangerous time of the day. We assume the temperature will be lower at night, but this is not always the case — especially in the city. All those roads and sidewalks retain heat during the day and as they release it at night the temperature remains high. Same thing for suburban congestion — several homes on an acre of land with homes just a few feet from each other is a bad idea.

17. Visit a friend or relative out of town. The temperature in the city is usually several degrees higher then the temperature in a country setting. The hard surfaces, walls, sidewalks, streets, parking lots — all retain heat and increase the temperature. Get out where there are trees and grass.

18. Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat cramps are muscle pains and spasms due to heavy exertion and dehydration. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are often the first signal that the body is in trouble. Someone suffering from heat exhaustion will have cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; sweat heavily; have a headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature may be normal, or may be rising. Someone suffering from heatstroke will have hot, red skin; lapse of consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Their body temperature can be very high, as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry. If any of these symptoms are present call your doctor or hospital for treatment directions. If you have any doubt, call for help.

19. Turn off lights and the computer in the rooms you are trying to cool down. Both will generate heat.

20. When it cools down at night, if it cools down, open all the windows. Close them again mid morning as it starts to heat up.

21. Never leave children or pets in a parked car, even with the windows open. The temperature in a car, with the windows open, can reach 120º F within a very few minutes.

22. If you are stranded in your car, place Mylar blankets on the roof and over the windshield and rear window, on the outside of the car. Weight them down with rocks or anything you have on hand. You can also secure them by closing them into the door. Keep the windows open. The Mylar blankets will reflect the sun, greatly reducing the heat.

23. Remember your pets. Pets can also suffer from heatstroke. Treat them as you would other family members. Bulldogs and other breeds with "pushed-in faces" are at highest risk for heat stroke and should not go outside when temperatures rise.

    Lay down a wet towel on a tile floor. Spray them with water. Encourage them to drink often. Keep them indoors. Feed them smaller more frequent meals.

24. If you need to go outside, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen.

25. Find a cooling center by calling the police department or fire department.

• Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscle pains and spasms due to heavy exertion and dehydration. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are often the first signal that the body is in trouble.

• Heat Exhaustion: Someone suffering from heat exhaustion will have cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; sweat heavily; have a headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and general exhaustion. Body temperature may be normal, or may be rising.

• Heat stroke: Someone suffering from heat stroke will have hot, red skin; lapse of consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Their body temperature can be very high, as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry. If any of these symptoms are present call your doctor or hospital for treatment directions. If you have any doubt, call for help.

• Heat cramps: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can cause further dehydration, making conditions worse.

• Heat exhaustion: Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Increase ventilation by opening windows or using a fan. Cool them down as quickly as possible. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give them aspirin or other medications. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.

• Heatstroke: Heatstroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Place victim in front of an open window or fan. Never leave a victim alone. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water, is vomiting, or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

• Treatment: Until you can get medical help move the animal into a cool area, apply ice packs or cold towels to the head, neck and chest or immerse the animal in cool water. Get the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Carolyn Nicolaysen grew up in New Jersey and joined the Church while attending Central College in Pella, Iowa. With a degree in home economics, she later worked as a high school teacher, then served a term as an elected trustee on her local school board. Carolyn has taught Personal and Family Preparedness to all who will listen. Having lived in areas that were threatened by hurricanes and tornadoes, and now living in an earthquake-prone area, she has developed a passion for preparedness. Carolyn started her own business, TotallyReady.com, when she saw the need for higher quality emergency kits that could truly sustain families in a disaster.

Carolyn and her husband, Don, are the parents of four children and grandparents of seven. They live in Oakdale, California.

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