Hate the Heat? Too Bad. It's Here to Stay
If you can’t stand the heat...You may as well get off the planet, because it’s only getting worse from here on out, according to the Center for Disease Control.
New data shows that the CDC has been underestimating the heat-related deaths that have occurred in the last few years, and that the crazy summer heat and intense, climate change-related storms leading to those deaths in the US are also on the rise. Between 1999 and 2009, in fact, more than 7,200 people died. For the first time, the CDC’s study included non-residents (that means illegal immigrants, tourists, migrant workers, etc), a group especially affected by the heat.
Hidden Toll
15% of heat deaths among non-residents (tourists, migrants), often overlooked in counts.
“About 15% of the heat-related deaths we have seen over 10 years are occurring in non-US residents,” one CDC member explained to NBC News.
Severe storms alone are enough to cause widespread deaths -- and the severity of recent storms has been largely attributed to global warming — but even just neglecting the basics of heat prevention (like forgetting to stay hydrated or turning on air conditioning) can lead to death. According to the CDC’s website, you should not rely on fans alone to help make it through the hot summer months.
So how can you stay alive this summer?
Heat illness should be dealt with immediately to prevent dehydration and heatstroke — if you start feeling tired or are sweating profusely, be sure to continue hydrating, even if you don’t feel incredibly thirsty. If you’re out in the sun, seek shelter by hopping into a public, air-conditioned area such as a mall or museum. Many restaurants and coffee shops are known to offer free water bottle refills on especially hot days, so be sure to carry a reusable bottle if you’re planning on spending the day outside — even if the place you pass by isn’t offering refills, they may be willing to fill up your bottle if you just ask politely. And, if you have asthma or other breathing conditions, you should probably avoid the heat altogether. Hot air is stagnant, making the quality of it unsuitable for breathing the hotter it gets.
It may look nice outside, but don’t be fooled — the weather’s a killer. You may as well just stay inside and watch TV all day; we give you permission to.
[Pic via Flickr - Jeff Covey]
