Beat The Heat
Beat The Heat
It is no secret that Summer in Houston can be a scorcher! ABC13 and Air Tech of Houston Air Conditioning and Plumbing have teamed up to bring you tips and information for keeping your family and home comfortable through this high temperature season! Stay cool all Summer long and beat the Houston heat!
Dangers of Extreme Heat
Heat Cramps
- Heat cramps may be the first sign of heat-related illness, and may lead to heat exhaustion or stroke.
- Symptoms: Painful muscle cramps and spasms usually in legs and abdomen and Heavy sweating.
- First Aid: Apply firm pressure on cramping muscles or gently massage to relieve spasm. Give sips of water unless the person complains of nausea, then stop giving water.
- Seek immediate medical attention if cramps last longer than 1 hour.
Heat Exhaustion
- Symptoms: Heavy sweating, Weakness or tiredness, cool, pale, clammy skin; fast, weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, fainting,
- First Aid: Move the person to a cooler environment, preferably a well-air-conditioned room. Loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths or have person sit in a cool bath. Offer sips of water. If person vomits more than once,
- Seek immediate medical attention if the person vomits, symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour
Heat Stroke
- Symptoms: Throbbing headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, body temperature above 103F, hot, red, dry or damp skin, rapid and strong pulse, fainting, loss of consciousness.
- First Aid: Call 911 or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Delay can be fatal. Move the victim to a cooler, preferably air-conditioned, environment. Reduce body temperature with cool cloths or bath. Use fan if heat index temperatures are below the high 90s. A fan can make you hotter at higher temperatures. Do NOT give fluids.
At High Risk
- Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and death, as their bodies are less able to adapt to heat than are adults.
- Older adults, particularly those with pre-existing diseases, take certain medications, are living alone or with limited mobility, and are exposed to extreme heat can experience multiple adverse effects.
- People with chronic medical conditions are more likely to have a serious health problem during a heat wave than healthy people.
- Pregnant women are also at higher risk. Extreme heat events have been associated with adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality, as well as congenital cataracts.
What To Do in A Heat Wave
Outdoor Activities
- Slow down. Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Those particularly vulnerable to heat such as children, infants, older adults (especially those who have preexisting diseases, take certain medications, living alone or with limited mobility), those with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
- Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
- Minimize direct exposure to the sun. Sunburn reduces your body's ability to dissipate heat.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from ultra-violet light
Eating and Drinking
- Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads. If you pack food, put it in a cooler or carry an ice pack. Don't leave it sitting in the sun. Meats and dairy products can spoil quickly in hot weather.
- Drink plenty of water (not very cold), non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty. If you are on a fluid-restrictive diet or have a problem with fluid retention, consult a physician before increasing consumption of fluids.
- Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
Cooling Down
- Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations such as malls and libraries.
- Use portable electric fans to exhaust hot air from rooms or draw in cooler air.
- Do not direct the flow of portable electric fans toward yourself when room temperature is hotter than 90F. The dry blowing air will dehydrate you faster, endangering your health.
- Take a cool bath or shower.
Check on Others
- Check on older, sick, or frail people who may need help responding to the heat. Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. Keep your children, disabled adults, and pets safe during tumultuous heat waves.
- Don't leave valuable electronic equipment, such as cell phones and gps units, sitting in hot cars.
- Make sure rooms are well-vented if you are using volatile chemicals.
- For more heat health tips, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Pets and Children
- Make sure pets have water and shade if outdoors
- Never leave pets or children in vehicles unattended
(Source: National Weather Service)
How To Keep Your Home Cool
Close your blinds
- Keep your blinds closed, especially on north and west-facing windows, to significantly cool your home. Better yet, invest in some block-out curtains to shield your home from that harsh summer sun.
Block the heat
- Stopping heat getting into your house in the first place means spending less on cooling. Shade windows and walls using external coverings, like blinds, awnings or large potted plants. Plant deciduous trees that cast shade over your home in summer, but still let the sun shine through in winter. If you can, invest in window tinting and top up your ceiling insulation - it'll help keep the warmth in in winter, too.
Adjust ceiling fans
- Use ceiling fans to help cool your home, and put less strain on your A/C
Close doors and seal gaps
Close doors to rooms you aren't using to keep cool air where you need it most. Seal gaps around doors and windows, and use draught excluders to ensure the cool air can't escape.
Chill out, not chill on
- Sip icy-cold drinks, apply a damp cloth to your neck and other pressure points on your body, or have a cold shower to cool your body without needing to overuse the air-conditioner on.
Choose cotton
- Cotton fabrics are super breathable and help cool your body. Wear light, loose clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton, and fit your bed with cotton sheets.
Change your lightbulbs
- If you're having trouble cooling your home and can't work out why, lightbulbs might be to blame. Incandescent and halogen light bulbs are being phased out in Australia, but many homes still use them. They produce a lot of heat, so switching to energy-saving bulbs like LED lights can help cool your home and save heaps on energy costs - that's a win-win!
(Source: Department of environment and water)
Service Your A/C
- Make sure your A/C unit is working properly. Consult an expert for service schedule and concerns. Air Tech A/C and Plumbing can schedule a repair or set up a time to check on your A/C to make sure it is equipped for summer.
-Get more Tips for your A/C unit from the experts at Air Tech A/C and Plumbing
Air Tech A/C and Colling is a proud Sponsor of Beat the Heat on ABC13
From AC repairs, AC installations and maintenance to indoor air quality and attic insulation, our team at Air Tech of Houston AC & Plumbing is dedicated to providing you with the 5-star, quality service you deserve every time. We've even extended our team to provide our high-quality AC services from Conroe to Galveston! Learn More
