Beat the Heat

 

Beat the Heat How we can survive the long hot simmer

May 21, 2024

It may have started raining now, but make no mistake: Per the weather bureau, temperatures will remain high and we remain vulnerable to the extreme heat that scorched us during this year's unprecedented summer season. March 2024 now stands as the hottest month in the planet's climate record, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. It was also the 10th in a row of record-breaking warm months. With climate change, the projection is that we will have to live with hotter and hotter days in the years to come. What can we do to keep ourselves safe and healthy in this increasingly dangerous weather? How do we avoid heatstroke? Are there foods we can eat to keep ourselves cool and hydrated? How do we help lower the temperature in our homes and vehicles? Here's a collection of Inquirer stories that provide tips and other timely reminders on how to survive the long hot simmer we're now experiencing. Always, drink lots of water! How to avoid heat stroke Children, the elderly and individuals with chronic conditions are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Common symptoms of heat-related illnesses range from mild symptoms such as red and itchy skin (heat rash) to more serious ones including nausea, fainting and muscle pains (heat stroke).