The Eastern U.S. is in for a rough couple of days, with the official start of summer being marked by a severe heatwave. Temperatures in Pittsburgh are expected to reach up to 96 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 24, according to The Weather Channel as of June 20.
To prepare for these high temperatures, The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania has released a public advisory of what Pennsylvanians can do to stay cool and hydrated during these high temperatures.
“Knowing what to do to protect yourself and loved ones from extreme heat can save lives,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “We’re asking everyone to check on friends and neighbors, especially older adults, people with chronic conditions, outdoor workers and athletes. You could make all the difference by sending a text, making a call or knocking on their door.”
The Red Cross suggests that people take the following steps during the heatwave:
- Stay hydrated by drinking a cup of water every hour, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.
Ideally, people working or playing outside should drink a cup of water every 20 minutes. Sugary drinks may seem tempting during a hot day, but these can actually have the opposite effect and dehydrate the drinker. The same goes for caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda, as well as alcoholic drinks. Foods with high water content, like cucumbers, tomatoes or melons, can make for good snacks during a heatwave.
- Stay cool by spending time in air-conditioned places. If your home is too hot, go to a mall, library or cooling center.
Not everyone has air-conditioning in their house, and intense heat can actually cause some air conditioners to break. The National Center for Healthy Housing has an article on its website linking to databases of cooling centers in every state, so it’s easy to find one near you. Pennsylvanians can use the United Way Pennsylvania website, or pa211.org.
- Stay connected by checking on others and asking for help if you need it. Make sure pets have access to fresh water and shade.
Keep an eye out for people in your neighborhood who may not have access to consistent air conditioning, and let them use yours or direct them to a public cooling center or venue with air conditioning. You should also be sure to check up on your pets, especially if they spend most of their time outside. You should never leave a child or pet alone in a hot car—even if you roll down the windows or leave the air conditioning on, it can still be very dangerous.
In addition to these three tips, people should also be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The latter can be fatal if left unchecked. If you or a loved one start to experience heavy sweating, muscle pain, headaches or nausea, make sure to move to a cool, shaded place and assess the situation from there.
The Red Cross also suggests that people download the Red Cross First Aid app, which provides resources on what to do in these emergency situations, as well as the Emergency app, which has weather forecasts and alerts. For more information, visit redcross.org/apps.
