#LosAngeles county specific #HeatwaveTips (website is directory of local resources).

https://www.climate4la.org/heat-relief-4-la/

When it is very hot (and you are sweating heavily), it is better to drink salty beverages (for #electrolytes) than water. If you don't want to buy a commercial "ade," you can dilute any fruit juice/vinegar (10 parts water to one part flavor) and add sea salt (about 1/2 to one teaspoon per quart to taste). Or use kimchi/pickle juice w/out adding salt. Or use 1 tablespoon sugar/molasses plus 1 teaspoon salt per quart for a very plain version. #HeatwaveTips

This article has some good cooling methods (listed below) and lots of #HeatWaveTips.

Keeping cool in blistering hot weather
by Dana Sparks, July 1, 2018

"If you suspect heatstroke, call 911. Then immediately move the person out of the heat, remove excess clothing, and cool him or her by whatever means available. Cooling methods include:

- Placing in a tub of cool water or a cool shower
- Spraying with a garden hose
- Sponging with cool water
- Fanning while misting with cool water
- Placing ice packs or cool wet towels on the neck, armpits and groin
- Covering with cool, damp sheets

"Let the person drink cool water to rehydrate, if he or she is able. Don't give sugary, caffeinated or alcoholic beverages to a person with heatstroke. Also avoid cold drinks, as these can cause stomach cramps.

"Begin CPR if the person loses consciousness and shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or movement."

#HeatWave #HeatWaves #CoolingMethods

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/keeping-cool-in-blistering-hot-weather/

How to Survive a #Blackout in a #HeatWave

No matter where you live, you should #BePrepared to live without power during #ExtremeHeat.

by Jeva Lange, July 11, 2023

"At the most basic, the emergency agencies that informed this article — primarily American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Ready.gov, all of which can be consulted for further resources — say you should have an emergency kit prepared and up to date in your home, and sign up for emergency alerts. (Also prepare a separate emergency kit for your pets if you have any.) This should include directions to your local cooling center in addition to a hospital.

"Next, 'Take an inventory of your essential electrical needs,' advises the American Red Cross. 'Then consider how you would live without them when the power goes out.' That list might include backup batteries for phones, fans, CPAP machines, or any other medical devices.

"Also consider buying misting spray bottles (we’ll get to those later) and a cooler where you can stash food if the refrigerator goes down. Battery-operated fans can additionally be useful to have on hand, particularly in humid areas, despite many public health organizations warning against them. Extra gallons of water are a part of every emergency kit, and important to have on hand as well.

"The first thing you want to do if the power goes out during a heat wave, regardless of how severe you anticipate the situation being, is prevent the loss of whatever cool air there still is inside your house. At the most basic, this means covering your windows to keep out sunlight by drawing the blinds.

"If you anticipate the power being out for more than a few hours — perhaps because one of the emergency alerts you signed up for warns you the blackout could last for days — take more dramatic measures, like using blackout curtains if you have them, or reflective, foil-covered pieces of cardboard in the windows to bounce heat off your home. The most important thing, though, is to get the windows covered with something; even a towel will do if you don’t have drapes or blinds. If you have a multi-story home and anticipate a long-lasting power outage, begin to shut upstairs doors (hot air rises!) with plans on keeping those rooms closed off for the duration of the blackout. Any particularly drafty doors or windows can be further sealed with a rolled-up towel. In a worst-case-scenario event, you’ll be staying downstairs until your air conditioning turns back on, so keep that in mind as you move through the rooms.

"As you’re making your sweep, also snag any medications you have stored, since heat can alter their efficacy. Many meds will become less potent or altered when exposed to high temperatures; aspirin, for example, breaks down into acetic acid and salicylic acid, which can upset the stomach.

"Preventatively turn off and disconnect appliances, too, in order to avoid damage from a surge when the power returns (this is generally good advice no matter what the blackout conditions are). Then establish yourself in your darkest, coolest room — it’s likely on the north side of your home or apartment. Generally avoid south-facing rooms, followed by east- and west-facing rooms, since they get the most sunlight. Hunkering down in the basement is also potentially a good option.

"Keep your refrigerator closed until about four hours have passed, at which point you should move the contents and stash them in a cooler. A full freezer can stay at a safe temperature for up to 48 hours, but as FoodSafety.gov will remind you, 'when in doubt, throw it out.'

"Keep in mind your own vulnerabilities to heat, too: The elderly and the prepubescent are most at risk, but people taking antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticholinergics, diuretics, and ACE inhibitors can all have severe heat intolerance, too, Yale Climate Connection observes. Additionally, the publication notes, certain diabetes medications, including insulin, can be less effective when exposed to high heat. People with heart disease, kidney issues, or diabetes should be especially cautious about their health during heat waves because of the intense strain on these systems.

"If the temperature starts to climb inside your home during a power outage, it is imperative to act quickly to stay healthy. Drink lots of water, but do so consistently, not in guzzling bursts; we’re limited in how much water we can absorb by how fast our kidneys can function. In extreme conditions, the body can absorb up to a liter of water per hour, but it’s often much less. It’s more important, then, to sip continually throughout the day."

Read more (though it may be behind a paywall):

https://heatmap.news/climate/heat-wave-blackout-power-outage

#HeatWaveTips

@glightly Long, baggy thin cotton/linen pants are much better for heat if you can find them (they used to be <$1 at thrift stores). I used to wear long cotton pants & a long sleeve oversized cotton dress shirt for field work in summer. (Baggy thin silk is also nice in dry heat only).
Definitely avoid fitted clothes. #HeatwaveTips

#ClimateDiary I am seeing a lot of practical advice at the moment about what to do in a #Heatwave, or how to prevent #ForestFires, or when there is a #FlashFlood.

It would be good to have an agreed #Hashtag that everyone uses and knows about, for this kind of advice - what do others think? @Gargron ?

Maybe something like

#HeatWaveTips #FloodTips #ForestFireTips

I don't know - something agreed that helps you to find relevant advice pretty quickly when you need it, or to disseminate it