Chill out! How to keep cool in the growing Virginia heat
Written by Dr. MB (Marybeth) Mitcham
Source: NOAA
Summertime in Virginia means vacations, outdoor fun, and gloriously long, sunny, hot days. However, those gloriously sunny summer days have been growing increasingly hotter due to climate change – in fact, dangerously so. Summer heat waves are increasingly not just a cause of physical discomfort. They are becoming a major public health concern due to the health risk associated with prolonged exposure to extreme heat.
The world’s leading health experts are increasingly convinced that climate change is one of if not the most significant threat to human health and wellbeing. Extreme heat exposure can result in a variety of health harms, including an exacerbation of existing chronic health conditions like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as through the danger of rapid dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even death. In addition to these physical health harms of prolonged exposure to extreme heat, especially among babies and children, the elderly, pregnant women, athletes, outdoor workers, people with chronic health conditions, and people living in low-income households, there is also the potential short and long-term mental health harms.
These risks are real, and growing, for residents of Virginia. For example, a recently published set of climate projections for Fairfax County, Virginia finds that the frequency of very hot days, or days where the temperature reaches a minimum of 95 degrees Fahrenheit, are projected to increase from an average of seven days per year to an average or more than 36 days per year by 2050.
Fortunately, there are many practical steps that local governments and community organizations in Virginia — and residents themselves — can take to reduce health harms associated with extreme heat.
Educate – learn the symptoms and warning signs of overheating, as well as what those symptoms indicate and what to do to immediately treat the condition if those symptoms are experienced by you or someone else. This knowledge is critical if you or anyone in your household is among the people listed above who are considered at risk for extreme heat.
Be aware – children and pets should not be left in parked vehicles during hot weather, even if the windows in that vehicle remain open. Additionally, certain medications may cause people to dehydrate more quickly, making extra precautions necessary to ensure their continued well-being during episodes of extreme heat.
Hydrate – although regular water intake is essential, electrolytes can help to facilitate hydration when extreme heat is experienced. Some options can include pre-made electrolyte drinks and make-your-own options to avoid the potential dehydrating effects of excessive sugar.
Timing – if possible, try to minimize time spent outdoors or periods of intense physical activity during the most intense heat. If you must be active or outdoors during episodes of high heat, strive to be highly aware of your body, maximizing time in the shade, rehydrating, and resting.
Cooling – central air conditioning (or air conditioning in general) is not available for everyone, so some alternative options to cool indoor spaces include placing a bowl of cold water and ice under a fan or hanging a damp sheet in front of open windows. Some ideas for a quick personal cooldown include cold baths (a favorite with my children), draping cold cloths over the back of the neck, or dunking wrists and the back of hands in cold water or under cold tap water. In addition to internal cooling through ice pops and traditional summertime cold sweets, enjoy chilled salads or soups.
Get to green spaces – in addition to the generally noted benefits of improving physical and mental health, green spaces have also been found to help improve the overall well-being of the people who frequent them during episodes of extreme heat.
Author
Dr. MB (Marybeth) Mitcham
Dr. Mitcham is an Assistant Professor and Director of the online MPH Program in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University
