Beat the Heat this Summer: Tips to Stay Safe and Cool

Getty Images

By: Cindy G. Castillo

Excessive heat warnings were issued this week, and the Valley is preparing for their hottest weeks yet.

Warnings of extreme temperatures will remain in effect until Thursday evening for metro Phoenix, Tucson and other desert communities in south-central Arizona.

The weather in Phoenix has tied the record set in 2008 with a high of 110 degrees on Monday.

A new Arizona State University research examines the heat-health aspects resulting from urbanization in Maricopa County.

“Extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States,” said David Hondula, a postdoctoral scholar in health informatics in ASU’s Center for Policy Informatics and lead author of the study. “In Maricopa County, we see more than 100 premature deaths and hundreds of excess emergency department visits as a result of high temperatures each summer.”

So with all of these scary statistics, what can we do to stay protected?

Alan Molk, MD, an emergency physician at Banner Estrella and Banner Good Samaritan Medical Centers talked about the health concerns to be aware of, and what to do to stay protected.

“If you must be outside, the best time is early in the morning or later in the evening, when the sun and heat are not as intense. Find shaded areas, make sure you have plenty of fluids on hand and listen to your body. If you begin experiencing any heat-related symptoms, act quickly,” he said.

Here’s a list of Important tips Dr. Molk provides to beat the heat:

• DRINK LOTS OF WATER. Don’t wait until you are thirsty. By the time you become thirsty, dehydration has already begun.

• Plan outdoor summer activities for early in the morning or late in the day.

• If you must be outside during the hottest time of the day, seek shade as often as possible.

• Avoid drinks with caffeine, such as tea, coffee or cola. Caffeine can deplete body fluid.

• Carry a spray bottle full of water to mist yourself when you are outside in the heat.

• NEVER LEAVE A CHILD OR PET UNATTENDED IN A CAR! Temperatures inside a car can exceed 120 degrees – hot enough to cause death quickly.

• Use common sense and listen to your body. If you start to feel ill, get out of the heat and seek help.

The study mentioned is described in the article “Challenges associated with projecting urbanization-induced heat-related mortality,” published in the current online issue of the journal Science of the Total Environment.