Some outlet did a series on climate change a while back that might have been focused most on heat, or at least one part of it was. A deep-dive. Really amazing work. One thing I remembered is that heat really does affect our tempers. People get angrier more easily and are more likely to snap, less patience. Not a great combo. (I wish I could remember the outlet but my Evernote is an absolute nightmare. If anyone out there wants the job of organizing thousands of files into folders I should have been using in the first place, it's there.)
Thank you, Janisse, for opening this important topic. I began experiencing near heat strokes 6-7 years ago during a period when I was actively engaged in tree and native plant conservation, participating regularly in outdoor events. Growing up on farms and wild places of north and south Alabama, I’ve been accustomed to heat my entire life. However, when combined with emotionally charged events in long hours of heat exposure and while not overweight, I was not in top physical shape, I started having the chill bumps, light-headedness, and loss of bladder control. My doc was alarmed.
Having this happen multiple times requires always having water- preferably ice water- since that’s the only thing that will cool my temperature down quickly. I pour it over my head immediately when I start to have symptoms and then very quickly get into the shade and start heading indoors. I will run from tree to tree to stay in the shade. I now wear only wide-brimmed, light-weight vented hats, one in particular by Coolibar with metallic outer coating to reflect the heat. I also carry an umbrella with me that has the same feature and is known to lower the temp beneath. I now make sure I always have a large thermos of water, snacks, and an umbrella for shade whenever I travel. Folding hats too. Just like a blanket in the car during winter travel, we have to prepare for the what-if’s. I have helped many others when out on hikes since I’m usually armored with extra heat protection. And always open to new ideas on how to combat the heat.
We have an editorial in the P-S today warning people about the heat! Thanks for this! I stay indoors usually, but yesterday I had to stand around outside the Glynn courthouse for hours waiting on a press conference after the lawyers and family finished their meeting with the DA. Exhausted! Me and five TV reporters in the heat for nearly four hours midday. They would not let us stay inside the court house! What we do for the news!
When we lived in east central Florida it took awhile to understand how adversely a hot day along with very high humidity affected normal body cooling processes. So whenever sweat no longer evaporated, or I anticipated that it would no longer evaporate, I would call it quits and go indoors. Even if my little indoor wood shop had only an electric fan to stir the air, it sufficient to evaporate perspiration and help maintain the body’s natural cooling system.
Old timers out west, ranchers and farmers, sometimes put their children to bed at night covered with wet sheets. The evaporation process made it more comfortable to sleep. Of course there weren’t
high humidity issues like the eastern States have.
I’ll take 100°+ (and high humidity too) days anytime over those Kansas -40°F and 40+mph winds wintertime days (and nights) anytime. Just sayin’. Those are the moments I cast a side glance toward my dear wife, Sue, and ask; …tell me once more, again, exactly why we needed to leave Florida?
We live in the Phoenix metro, so it is hot. The highs are probably not the biggest problem, but the fact that the lows are in the high 80's and even the 90's. There's just not a break from the heat.
It's important to realize that your decision-making ability is affected by the heat. It's not a time to figure things out on the fly. Be prepared and be prepared to quit.
Janisse, as always, you generate good and important conversations. Thank you for this! I am avidly reading all these comments as we share our experiences. Lots of great tips for dealing with the heat. I'd like to add one I learned about from a client of mine who has MS and can't tolerate heat. She turned me on to ice vests. It's a lightweight mesh vest that has pockets and you fill those pockets with gel ice packs you keep in your freezer. They last for at least an hour or two outside in the heat. Great for mowing the lawn, gardening, outdoor chores, etc. Really keeps your core cool(er).
Such important points were made here. Thank you, Janisse, for explaining how now just those in poverty, but those who live paycheck to paycheck suffer from lack of A/C . Some just do not have the finances to pay for using it for days on end. In this area they expect to use a bedroom unit a few hot nights for sleeping. Here in the Finger Lakes of NY, we do not have the extremely hot temps, but we are seeing higher temperatures than what has been normal. Our area has seen a couple of severe storms and yesterday the first tornado warning I can ever remember. While it never materialized, first time to go to the basement. We need to check on our vulnerable neighbors, advocate for eliminating fossil fuels, work to have climate change a priority in any political discussion, and get the states to open cooling centers. This is just a drop in the bucket of things that need to be accomplished. Our governor has declared the polls in state parks are free for the summer. One step. This reality is only going to get worse and I fear our nation is woefully unprepared. We must speak out!
Thank you, Janisse. Such important information. Also, wasn’t Goodell’s book something? I flew through it in kind of a fugue state. I need to slow down and reread it soon.
Here in Asheville, NC at 10:35 a.m. it's 73 degrees with a lovely breeze. Unfortunately, we are extremely dry and these big trees in the Blue Ridge Mts. are used to afternoon summer rains. My 1500 gal. rainwater cistern is empty. Last week it hit 90 here which is above normal for us. Wildfires are a concern.
here in the pacific northwest, away from the coast it is crazy hot. it was 103 for 3 days here, but the high yesterday was a balmy 99. and it's going down to 92 for the rest of the week into next week. we still have plenty of water here, and electricity from hydroelectric but we also have a huge unhoused population. i believe we will see many more deaths that are not directly attributed to heat but are caused by it. this is not what i expected when i moved here.
I would love to talk to you about this topic in combination with the onset of post-viral illness. I have POTS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, which causes extreme heat intolerance. I've had it for a long time, but getting covid ramped it up several notches. It's estimated 40-60% of Long Covid cases are POTS. I was misdiagnosed with anxiety for 12 years before I could get a diagnosis. It's made me extremely heat cautious. Like you wrote, a lot of this is a justice issue. So many poor people were exposed to covid through work or crowded living. Many of those who developed post viral illness don't have access to medical care. One of the most deadly occupations during the pandemic was line cook, and those folks are working in extreme heat *indoors* with very little protections. We're looking at a mass heat event on top of a mass disabling event, and we are not ready as a society. Personally in Milledgeville, we're facing 110° heat index almost every day. I can only tolerate the outdoors in the early morning and late evening. Even walking to and from the car in the heat of the day is enough to make me sick. I keep iced water on me at all times, drink about 1000mg sodium via electrolytes daily, and keep cooling towels or neck ice packs ready. I also keep a portable stool and fan for when I can't avoid the heat.
My daughter has POTS. she is disabled by heat. I am so sorry for all of you. Autonomic nervous system disorders are insidious. People tell her to put mind over matter because they can’t see her illness. As for me, heat is hard but I don’t complain because I can get out of it. We have to be extremely careful with the horses. High humidity leaves no space for sweat to evaporate so even mornings and evenings are usually not safe for riding right now.
Here in Chattanooga, daytime temperatures reached the mid-to-high-90s for a few weeks. That is not an unusual temperature lately, but consistent temperatures in that range, day after day are rare. Yesterday it was cooler with temperatures topping at 90. Today's forecast is the same. I agree that climate is a social justice issue.
The ultimate solution is reduced energy use, as unlikely as it may be. So-called sustainable alternatives create other environmental problems and may ultimately be just as devastating.
Here in central Oregon we are back in the 90's after five or six days of 100+. Not as hot as the southwest US, thank goodness. As you note, Janisse, a person has to be careful in the heat; drink more water, move a little slower, take more breaks. Be especially mindful of animals. We are lucky to have AC. I often think of those who do not and send wishes for their well being. I take bottles of water to centers that support the homeless and those in need.
Heat and other things too. New England is at the proverbial tail-pipe from carbon burning in the Ohio river valley. I signed up years ago on airnow.gov for email advisories on air quality. They report particulates and ozone levels so you can plan your exposure.
Some outlet did a series on climate change a while back that might have been focused most on heat, or at least one part of it was. A deep-dive. Really amazing work. One thing I remembered is that heat really does affect our tempers. People get angrier more easily and are more likely to snap, less patience. Not a great combo. (I wish I could remember the outlet but my Evernote is an absolute nightmare. If anyone out there wants the job of organizing thousands of files into folders I should have been using in the first place, it's there.)
Thank you, Janisse, for opening this important topic. I began experiencing near heat strokes 6-7 years ago during a period when I was actively engaged in tree and native plant conservation, participating regularly in outdoor events. Growing up on farms and wild places of north and south Alabama, I’ve been accustomed to heat my entire life. However, when combined with emotionally charged events in long hours of heat exposure and while not overweight, I was not in top physical shape, I started having the chill bumps, light-headedness, and loss of bladder control. My doc was alarmed.
Having this happen multiple times requires always having water- preferably ice water- since that’s the only thing that will cool my temperature down quickly. I pour it over my head immediately when I start to have symptoms and then very quickly get into the shade and start heading indoors. I will run from tree to tree to stay in the shade. I now wear only wide-brimmed, light-weight vented hats, one in particular by Coolibar with metallic outer coating to reflect the heat. I also carry an umbrella with me that has the same feature and is known to lower the temp beneath. I now make sure I always have a large thermos of water, snacks, and an umbrella for shade whenever I travel. Folding hats too. Just like a blanket in the car during winter travel, we have to prepare for the what-if’s. I have helped many others when out on hikes since I’m usually armored with extra heat protection. And always open to new ideas on how to combat the heat.
We have an editorial in the P-S today warning people about the heat! Thanks for this! I stay indoors usually, but yesterday I had to stand around outside the Glynn courthouse for hours waiting on a press conference after the lawyers and family finished their meeting with the DA. Exhausted! Me and five TV reporters in the heat for nearly four hours midday. They would not let us stay inside the court house! What we do for the news!
That sounds criminal, being made to wait in the heat.
When we lived in east central Florida it took awhile to understand how adversely a hot day along with very high humidity affected normal body cooling processes. So whenever sweat no longer evaporated, or I anticipated that it would no longer evaporate, I would call it quits and go indoors. Even if my little indoor wood shop had only an electric fan to stir the air, it sufficient to evaporate perspiration and help maintain the body’s natural cooling system.
Old timers out west, ranchers and farmers, sometimes put their children to bed at night covered with wet sheets. The evaporation process made it more comfortable to sleep. Of course there weren’t
high humidity issues like the eastern States have.
I’ll take 100°+ (and high humidity too) days anytime over those Kansas -40°F and 40+mph winds wintertime days (and nights) anytime. Just sayin’. Those are the moments I cast a side glance toward my dear wife, Sue, and ask; …tell me once more, again, exactly why we needed to leave Florida?
How have I NEVER heard of using a wet sheet? This is genius.
My mom did the wet sheet thing with us kids in South Georgia! Works!
We live in the Phoenix metro, so it is hot. The highs are probably not the biggest problem, but the fact that the lows are in the high 80's and even the 90's. There's just not a break from the heat.
It's important to realize that your decision-making ability is affected by the heat. It's not a time to figure things out on the fly. Be prepared and be prepared to quit.
That's so important. I hope you don't mind if I borrow it & add it in to the post.
Janisse, as always, you generate good and important conversations. Thank you for this! I am avidly reading all these comments as we share our experiences. Lots of great tips for dealing with the heat. I'd like to add one I learned about from a client of mine who has MS and can't tolerate heat. She turned me on to ice vests. It's a lightweight mesh vest that has pockets and you fill those pockets with gel ice packs you keep in your freezer. They last for at least an hour or two outside in the heat. Great for mowing the lawn, gardening, outdoor chores, etc. Really keeps your core cool(er).
Jeanne, I'm going to add this idea to the post itself. Very cool!
Yes, literally cool! 😄
Such important points were made here. Thank you, Janisse, for explaining how now just those in poverty, but those who live paycheck to paycheck suffer from lack of A/C . Some just do not have the finances to pay for using it for days on end. In this area they expect to use a bedroom unit a few hot nights for sleeping. Here in the Finger Lakes of NY, we do not have the extremely hot temps, but we are seeing higher temperatures than what has been normal. Our area has seen a couple of severe storms and yesterday the first tornado warning I can ever remember. While it never materialized, first time to go to the basement. We need to check on our vulnerable neighbors, advocate for eliminating fossil fuels, work to have climate change a priority in any political discussion, and get the states to open cooling centers. This is just a drop in the bucket of things that need to be accomplished. Our governor has declared the polls in state parks are free for the summer. One step. This reality is only going to get worse and I fear our nation is woefully unprepared. We must speak out!
Thank you, Janisse. Such important information. Also, wasn’t Goodell’s book something? I flew through it in kind of a fugue state. I need to slow down and reread it soon.
Here in Asheville, NC at 10:35 a.m. it's 73 degrees with a lovely breeze. Unfortunately, we are extremely dry and these big trees in the Blue Ridge Mts. are used to afternoon summer rains. My 1500 gal. rainwater cistern is empty. Last week it hit 90 here which is above normal for us. Wildfires are a concern.
Done with weeding by 1000. Mornings are so sweet with birdsong. Mugwort is my nemesis. Tiny million seed aster too.
Local impact - Amnicola Marsh is Drying Up. https://rayzimmerman.substack.com/p/amnicola-marsh-is-drying-up/comments
Yes, thanks for writing about that.
here in the pacific northwest, away from the coast it is crazy hot. it was 103 for 3 days here, but the high yesterday was a balmy 99. and it's going down to 92 for the rest of the week into next week. we still have plenty of water here, and electricity from hydroelectric but we also have a huge unhoused population. i believe we will see many more deaths that are not directly attributed to heat but are caused by it. this is not what i expected when i moved here.
Thanks for the report.
I would love to talk to you about this topic in combination with the onset of post-viral illness. I have POTS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, which causes extreme heat intolerance. I've had it for a long time, but getting covid ramped it up several notches. It's estimated 40-60% of Long Covid cases are POTS. I was misdiagnosed with anxiety for 12 years before I could get a diagnosis. It's made me extremely heat cautious. Like you wrote, a lot of this is a justice issue. So many poor people were exposed to covid through work or crowded living. Many of those who developed post viral illness don't have access to medical care. One of the most deadly occupations during the pandemic was line cook, and those folks are working in extreme heat *indoors* with very little protections. We're looking at a mass heat event on top of a mass disabling event, and we are not ready as a society. Personally in Milledgeville, we're facing 110° heat index almost every day. I can only tolerate the outdoors in the early morning and late evening. Even walking to and from the car in the heat of the day is enough to make me sick. I keep iced water on me at all times, drink about 1000mg sodium via electrolytes daily, and keep cooling towels or neck ice packs ready. I also keep a portable stool and fan for when I can't avoid the heat.
My daughter has POTS. she is disabled by heat. I am so sorry for all of you. Autonomic nervous system disorders are insidious. People tell her to put mind over matter because they can’t see her illness. As for me, heat is hard but I don’t complain because I can get out of it. We have to be extremely careful with the horses. High humidity leaves no space for sweat to evaporate so even mornings and evenings are usually not safe for riding right now.
Here in Chattanooga, daytime temperatures reached the mid-to-high-90s for a few weeks. That is not an unusual temperature lately, but consistent temperatures in that range, day after day are rare. Yesterday it was cooler with temperatures topping at 90. Today's forecast is the same. I agree that climate is a social justice issue.
The ultimate solution is reduced energy use, as unlikely as it may be. So-called sustainable alternatives create other environmental problems and may ultimately be just as devastating.
Here in central Oregon we are back in the 90's after five or six days of 100+. Not as hot as the southwest US, thank goodness. As you note, Janisse, a person has to be careful in the heat; drink more water, move a little slower, take more breaks. Be especially mindful of animals. We are lucky to have AC. I often think of those who do not and send wishes for their well being. I take bottles of water to centers that support the homeless and those in need.
Bless you for this, Jenny. I'm going to borrow a few of your ideas to add into the post.
💖
Heat and other things too. New England is at the proverbial tail-pipe from carbon burning in the Ohio river valley. I signed up years ago on airnow.gov for email advisories on air quality. They report particulates and ozone levels so you can plan your exposure.
Yes, another entire post, right?