If you live in Houston, you know how hot it gets here. Nationally, extreme heat kills more people per year than hurricanes or tornadoes, making it the most dangerous of extreme weather conditions. If the temperatures are soaring, then your best bet is to stay indoors in an air-conditioned home, especially in the peak hot hours of the day. However, You might be outdoors for work or play, or the power can go out suddenly, which means protecting yourself from the health risks of exposure to humid high heat days.
Our bodies have a few mechanisms to reduce the impact of heat on them, and the most common way is to create perspiration that will evaporate and cool off the body. It’s relatively effective as long as a steady supply of liquid replaces the lost perspiration. This is why being hydrated is so important on hot days. Prolonged exposure to heat without regular hydration can lead to these heat symptoms that you should watch for:
Heat Syncope— The symptoms are lightheadedness, dizziness, and even fainting.
Heat Cramps— Without a regular supply of liquids, muscles contract and cause painful cramping.
Heat Edema—Swelling in the ankles, caused by the heart working harder to circulate blood to the skin to cool it.
Heat Rash— Blocked sweat glands can produce a rash, mostly with babies or small children, but anyone can get them.
Heat Exhaustion—Heavy sweating, clammy skin, fast or weak pulse, nausea, weakness, dizziness.
Heat Stroke—this is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention. Symptoms include high body temperature, hot skin, headache, nausea, and confusion.
Sunburns—extended exposure can burn the skin, causing pain and potential damage to the skin.
Poor air quality conditions can also have a greater impact on people during heat waves because the cardiopulmonary system has to work harder. Extreme heat should always be taken seriously.
Your best tactic to beat Houston heat is to stay in an air-conditioned environment during the hottest parts of the day. Most homes in Houston have some form of air conditioning, whether it’s a central AC system, heat pumps, or ductless mini-split systems. If your system is not working or not working well enough, call us to come out and fix it. In the meantime, find a neighbor or go to a local restaurant or shopping center during the hottest parts of the day.
If there is a widespread power outage (which will happen here in Houston during hurricane and tropical storm season), then you should have a plan for keeping cool until the power comes back on. Have some battery-powered fans on hand. Keep your drapes and blinds closed to minimize heat from the sun. Also, keep your refrigerator doors closed to keep your food fresh for as long as possible.
If you need to be outside, make sure that you have plenty of liquids to drink. While water is essential, electrolytes help your body absorb water better and eliminate waste more effectively. Stay in the shade as often as you can, wear loosely fitting clothing, and have a broad-brimmed hat that covers your head.
Extreme heat impacts the vulnerable members of the community, especially the elderly. Older people have several disadvantages in cases of extreme heat. They don’t produce the same level of perspiration, their ability to feel thirsty can diminish, and some medications can dehydrate older people. Plus, their hearts have to work harder to try and keep blood circulating to cool their body. If you have elderly neighbors, please check on them to make sure they are okay. Houston citizens are known for their hospitality, especially when times are tough.
At Champion and Nash, we know that your air conditioning system is a literal lifesaver during the hot days of summer. Making sure you have a working AC is an important part of our jobs. Our technicians are used to working in the heat of Houston to make sure you stay cool in your home. Get your AC maintained regularly, or have your system repaired if it’s not working, or get a new system if you’re looking for a significant improvement in cooling and efficiency.
We’ll do our part, and we want you to do yours by staying hydrated, staying cool outdoors, and checking on your neighbors to make sure they are coping well with the Houston heat.
You can count on Champion & Nash for fast, effective, and well-priced solutions tailored to your needs.
