How to stay cool throughout the heatwave in the US right now - even if you don't have AC
The first major heatwave of 2025 has arrived, coinciding with the official start of summer, placing over 40 million people across the US under heat alerts. Temperatures are set to soar into the 90s Fahrenheit across the Midwest this weekend, with triple-digit highs anticipated in major East Coast cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., alongside Denver, as the peak hits early next week. British health officials have also issued heat warnings for the UK, underscoring a global concern.
This escalating heat is not merely an inconvenience; it poses significant health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions. Climate change, largely driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is exacerbating these extreme weather events, making already hot regions increasingly dangerous. The true measure of heat danger extends beyond simple temperature readings, incorporating factors like humidity, cloud cover, and wind, as captured by the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT). Even seemingly lower temperatures can be perilous in humid conditions. A critical concern is the lack of overnight reprieve during heatwaves. "Your body needs a reprieve," explained Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University. "You don't get that overnight, we start the next day at a deficit." She warned that overnight temperatures failing to drop below 75F (24C) can lead to "pretty extraordinary outcomes with respect to heat illness and heat stroke, and even mortality."
To mitigate these risks, finding air conditioning is paramount. While home AC is ideal, census data suggests access is often overcounted. Ms Ward advises creating a "cool corner" for sleep if cooling an entire house is unfeasible. For those without home air conditioning, public spaces such as movie theatres, malls, and libraries offer vital cooling centres. Evaporative coolers are effective in dry climates but can worsen humidity, making simple fans a better option in humid environments. Assistance programmes like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and local non-profits can help secure window AC units for those in need.
Workplace protections against extreme heat remain a patchwork in the US, with no federal heat rules in place. While some states like California, Washington, and Maryland have regulations, enforcement can be challenging. Bharat Venkat, director of the University of California, Los Angeles Heat Lab, noted that workers often lack control over their time or location, making it difficult to take breaks in shaded areas without losing wages. For outdoor workers, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, wetting clothing, or applying cold water to pulse points (hands, feet, armpits, neck) is crucial. Portable fans and cooling vests can also offer relief. Those exercising should avoid the hottest parts of the day and carry more water than anticipated.
Recognising the symptoms of heat illness is vital, as they can vary and be masked by medications or underlying conditions. Early warning signs include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, and headaches – at which point immediate cooling measures should be taken. As heat exhaustion progresses, symptoms like a faster heart rate and dizziness may appear. The most severe stage, heat stroke, manifests as confusion, slurred words, and fainting, requiring immediate emergency attention. "Don't be embarrassed to call 911 or go to urgent care when you think you might have overdone it in the heat," Mr Venkat urged. The arrival of this intense heatwave serves as a stark reminder of the growing impact of a warming planet. As temperatures continue to rise, understanding the risks and implementing preventative measures will be increasingly critical for public safety.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Dog owners rush to Amazon as 'pooch-approved' cooling mat is slashed to £17
DOG owners are flocking to retail giant Amazon to purchase a cooling mat, reduced from £21.99 to £16.99. The mat has seen a 23% price drop, making it the perfect time to buy as the hot weather shows no signs of easing. 1 Pawtasy Dog Cooling Mat, £21.99 £16.99 BUY FROM AMAZON As temperatures soar to 33 degrees in parts of the UK, it's crucial to keep your furry friends as cool as possible, and this cooling mat is looks like an essential for dogs who want to stay comfortable in the heatwave. This clever mat is designed to stay chilled even in the hottest weather (like, right now) thanks to its pressure-activated cooling gel, which begins working as soon as your pooch sets its paws on it and remains cool for up to three hours. Amazon often offers the best prices of items for doggies (it's a great place to shop if you're bulk-buying mega packs of Pedigree snacks). The mat works by absorbing your dog's high body heat and lowering its temperature. Simply place it in their favourite spot and watch the cooling powers take effect. The mat is available in three sizes, small, medium, and large, all of which are currently on sale, making it suitable for a variety of breeds. The dimensions range from approximately 40 x 50 cm for smaller dogs to 70 x 110 cm for larger breeds. It's lightweight, foldable, and can be used at home, in the garden, in the car. You can easily pack it in your luggage if you're taking your dog with you on your summer hols. The surface is scratch-proof and waterproof, making it easy to clean and durable, even with the most enthusiastic of dogs. However, if your dog happens to damage it, you can contact the brand with a picture and receive a free replacement. Priced at just £16, this gel cooling mat is a budget-friendly way to keep your pup comfortable during these intense heatwave weeks. Many happy dog owners have sung the mat's praises online, with some even sharing the cooling pad with their pooches. 'Put your feet on one, and you'll see they really work. It's wonderful for aching feet and keeping cool in hot weather,' said one customer. 'My Labrador absolutely loves this mat!" added another shopper. "He's been lying on it all day during the heatwave and seems so much more comfortable. It's worth every penny.' A third reviewer commented on its practicality. 'I take this mat everywhere with us - on picnics, car rides, and even to the park," they wrote. "It's lightweight and folds up easily, so it's super-convenient.' Whether you're planning a weekend in the garden or a trip to the seaside, this cooling mat is an essential item for dog owners looking to beat the heat. Amazon currently has great deals on heatwave essentials like this La Roche-Posay SPF mist, slashed to £10.50, and this powerful bladeless tower fan slashed from £50 to £6. BUY HERE The best deals on household essentials this week *If you a click a link in this article, we may earn affiliate revenue. Our team of shopping experts are constantly on the lookout for the best deals on household essentials — whether that's pantry staples, laundry pods or necessities like kitchen and loo rolls. Here are the best deals we've spotted at Amazon this week: Blu Tack, £2.45 £1.10 - buy here Allevia Hayfever Tablets, £11.89 £7.58 - buy here Calgon 4-in-1 Washing Machine Cleaner x75, £28 £18.99 - buy here Fairy Platinum Plus All-in-1 Dishwasher Tablets x108, £30 £19.40 - buy here Febreze Bathroom Air Freshener x8, £28 £16 - buy here Air Wick Automatic Air Freshener x4, £22 £10.34 - buy here Splesh by Cusheen 3-ply Toilet Roll x72, £32.99 £21.84 - buy here Pritt Glue Stick, £4.99 £3 - buy here High5 Zero Electrolyte Tablets, £7.99 £4.04 - buy here Grenade Salted Caramel Bars x 12, £30.99 £20.95 - buy here Heinz Beanz x12, £16.80 £10.50 - buy here Plymouth Original Dry Gin, £28.50 £20.46 - buy here Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, £9.99 £6.49 - buy here NIVEA Q10 60+ Mature Skin Body Lotion, £12.09 £7.51 - buy here
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
I'm a gardening pro – this is exact amount of seconds to water plants for during a heatwave & the best time of day
It's been really hot this week and the plants are really feeling it. High temperatures can cause wilting, leaf scorch, stunted growth and a reduced ability to photosynthesis. 2 2 There' s all sorts of way you can reduce the pressure on the plants to cope. If you've got plants in pots - move them into the shade - and group them together - so they give each other protection. Water early in the morning before it starts getting really hot - so it doesn't all evaporate - or if that's not an option - when the sun's gone down. However morning is the best option - as slugs move around at night and love the damp soil. It's best to give them a really good soaking once or twice a week rather than a light water daily. And experts reckon you should count to between 20 and 25 seconds as you water each plant - to make sure the water soaks down through the soil to the roots. It's not what we want - but there's no problem with letting your lawn go brown - if it's healthy it will cope - and the green will return when there's a bit of rain. Raise your mower's cutting level and let the cuttings fall as mulch on the lawn - to keep in moisture. Keep weeding - so they're not competing with the plants you want in your outside space. Save and store any rainwater to reuse in your garden. If you don't have room for a water butt - just leave a few brightly coloured buckets around to catch any rain. 6 ways to get rid of slugs and snails Or you could splash out on a dipping tank - which looks lovely and stories water. You could also set up an irrigation system - although these are costly - but a leaky hose can work just as well. Choose drought tolerant plants like Agapanthus, Lavender, Geums and hardy Geraniums. Also in Veronica's Gardening Column this week... The best new plants on the market - plus a competition to win a Lawncare flower bundle A BRAND new cherry tree called Japanese Lantern has won the prestigious Horticultural Trade Association's 'Best In Show'. From growers Frank P Matthews, based in Tenbury Wells, Worcs, the 'Prunus Samaura Fugenzo' was described as having 'densely double-frilled flowers with white, pink, and green petals that deepen in colour as they age'. Plus it thrives across all regions of the UK and in a variety of soil types, except those that are heavily waterlogged. All plants that entered had to be new to the UK and introduced to the market within the last year. The winners were… Annuals, Tender Perennials: LaBella Dahlia Grande Chocolate Rose - from Beekenkamp Plants Cacti & Succulents: Cotyledon Green Footprint - from Javado UK Flowering Houseplants: Cyclamen persicum Super Serie Dragon Deep Blue - from Profitplant BV Foliage Houseplants: Calathea 'Velvet Glory' - from Javado UK Herbaceous Perennials: Hosta 'Silly String' - from Darby Nursery Stock Ltd & Fairweathers Shrubs (including Conifers): Hydrangea Zeta Noir - from Bransford Webbs Plant Company & Darby Nurseries Trees Prunus Sumaura Fugenzo Japanese Lantern - from Frank P Mathews Ltd (BEST IN SHOW) WIN! Our friends at Johnson's Seeds are offering TEN Sun Gardening readers a Wildflower lawncare bundle worth £25 each. The Lawn Seed combines slow growing grasses with UK native mowable flowers - a pollinators dream - plus there's a tin of Celebration Wildflower s. To win visit or write to Sun Wildflower Lawn Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. July 5, 2025. T&Cs apply. NEWS! Dragon's Den OG Theo Paphitus has launched a new online garden centre at Garden enthusiasts and pet owners can browse thousands of lines - from live plants and outdoor furniture, to turf, trellis and fences – with free delivery nationwide. JOB OF THE WEEK Pinch out the tips of fuchsia to encourage more flowers. Pick sweet peas to get more blooms. Stake tall perennials like Goura, deadhead spent geraniums, For more tips and news, follow me @biros_and_bloom
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Current heatwave ‘likely to kill almost 600 people in England and Wales'
Almost 600 people are expected to die early in the heatwave roasting England and Wales, a rapid analysis has found. The surge in deaths would not be occurring without human-caused global heating, the scientists said, with temperatures boosted by 2C-4C by the pollution from fossil fuels. Premature deaths will occur across the two countries but the highest mortality rates are expected in London and the West Midlands. Most of the deaths – 85% – will be people over 65 years old, who are more vulnerable to the extreme heat. People in inner-city homes are also at high risk. More than 10,000 people died before their time in summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The government's preparations to protect people from the escalating impacts of the climate crisis were condemned as 'inadequate, piecemeal and disjointed' by official advisers in April. The 32C heat that will be endured by people in the south-east of England on Saturday will have been made 100 times more likely by the climate crisis, scientists said on Friday. 'Heatwaves are silent killers – people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death,' said Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, at Imperial College London, who is part of the team that estimated the number of deaths. 'This real-time analysis reveals the hidden toll of heatwaves and we want it to help raise the alarm,' he said. 'Heatwaves are an under-appreciated threat in the UK and they're becoming more dangerous with climate change.' Prof Antonio Gasparrini, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and also part of the analysis team, said: 'Increases of just a degree or two can be the difference between life and death. 'When temperatures push past the limits populations are acclimatised to, excess deaths can increase very rapidly. Every fraction of a degree of warming will cause more hospital admissions and heat deaths, putting more strain on the NHS.' The analysis used decades of UK data to determine the relationship between temperatures and heat deaths in more than 34,000 areas across England and Wales. The researchers combined this with high-resolution weather forecasts to estimate that there will be about 570 deaths between Thursday and Sunday, with 129 in London. The number could be an underestimate, they said, as people were less prepared for heatwaves in early summer. Dr Malcolm Mistry, at LSHTM, said: 'Exposure to temperatures in the high 20s or low 30s may not seem dangerous, but they can be fatal, particularly for people aged over 65, infants, pregnant people, and those with pre-existing health conditions.' The UKHSA sounded the alarm on Thursday with an amber heat-health alert, also warning of 'a rise in deaths' and 'significant impacts' to health and social care services. The alert is expected to remain in force until 9am on Monday. Dr Lorna Powell, an NHS urgent care doctor in east London, said: 'We are seeing cases of heat-related illnesses rising. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion 'Heat exhaustion can quickly trigger more serious illnesses, as dehydration sets in and the cardiovascular system becomes overwhelmed. 'We must stop burning coal, oil and gas if we are to stabilise our climate and prevent scores of preventable health issues, hospital visits and deaths.' The UKHSA recommends people keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm on the hottest days, drink plenty of water, and look out for older people. A recent study estimated that 80% of UK homes overheat in the summer. The hot sun has also led to a warning of high ozone air pollution in London on Saturday, with people with lung problems advised to limit exercise. The climate crisis drove the annual global temperature in 2024 to a new record and carbon dioxide emissions from coal, oil and gas are still rising. That means heatwaves will get ever more intense and frequent. A recent report by the UK climate change committee estimated that heat-related deaths could rise to more than 10,000 a year by 2050 if global temperatures rise to 2C above preindustrial levels. Globally, extreme heat is more deadly than floods, earthquakes and hurricanes combined, taking about 500,000 lives a year, according to a report by the insurer Swiss Re. 'Extreme heat events are more dangerous than natural catastrophes in terms of human lives lost, yet the true cost is only starting to come to light,' said Nina Arquint, a corporate solutions chief executive at Swiss Re.
