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ysabetwordsmithWhy the U.S. struggles to track heat deaths and protect people from extreme temperatures
A new analysis has revealed that the United States cannot reliably count heat deaths or identify who must act when temperatures turn dangerous.
That failure can turn a clear forecast into a patchy response, leaving protection to depend on local records, budgets, and authority.
TL;DR -- People don't give a shit.
However, there are things that any individual, organization, or town can do about this even in the absence of effective government or societal action.
* Be prepared for extreme heat. Heatwaves are getting longer, hotter, and more frequent. Do not rely on governments or corporations to take precautions; they're fine with people dying. However, OSHA has some guidelines for heat safety that may be useful. The National Weather Service provides a Heat Index.
* Know the signs of heat stress and how to treat it. Here is OSHA's guide for heat-stressed workers. Wilderness first aid is helpful in cases where medical aid is unavailable for whatever reason.
* Stock extra cooling supplies. Watch for cooling towels, fans, air conditioners, etc. to go on sale and keep at least one spare. Then you can lend them to other folks whose cooling system breaks.
* Identify people in your circle of family and friends, neighborhood, work, etc. who are more vulnerable to heat stress. Keep a closer eye on them outdoors and during heatwaves generally.
* Ensure that all buildings have effective HVAC systems to maintain habitable conditions. First aid kits and rooms should stock supplies for preventing and treating heat stress.
* For outdoor activities or events, provide adequate shade and FREE supplies such as water, electrolytes, and sunscreen. EZ-Up canopy tents are affordable and portable, providing shade wherever needed; if you do a lot of large outdoor things, stock plenty of those or other shade materials. Include an indoor air-conditioned cooling area if at all possible, with clear directions to it. In dry heat when water is available, misters can help with outdoor cooling. Be willing to alter or cancel plans if heat reaches hazardous levels.
* If you are an employer or other leader of a group, make sure your facilities and events are safe. Offer heat safety training for your people. Stock appropriate supplies. Just because others are evil and stupid doesn't mean you have to be that way. There are plentiful safety guidelines available that you can customize for your local conditions, resources, and personnel.
* Towns must care for all souls on board, which now includes providing cool shelter from hot weather. People often do that with air conditioning, but there is a cheaper and greener alternative: underground temperatures remain much more stable than above ground, thus cooler than air in summer and warmer in winter. While you could sink new shelters if necessary, most towns already have larger underground spaces in the form of basements for schools, libraries, community centers, or other facilities. Especially check those that are not already in use for other purposes to see if they could be dedicated to safety uses. In areas where it is not safe or feasible to dig underground, similar benefits may be achieved with a surface shelter covered by at least 3-4 feet of soil topped with hardy plants.
To minimize stress, stock cooling centers with books, games, and other quiet entertainment. You can find these cheap or free through thrift stores, Freecycle, donations, etc. You will get the most bang for your buck from game systems such as cards or dice, which can be bought cheaply in bulk, plus books or printouts of rules. Both cards and dice have hundreds or thousands of games for them. Many more can be played with a pencil or pen and paper, so stock those supplies and their rules. String and a book of string figures will also help. The PDQ roleplaying game engine is free, easy to learn in 5 minutes, and can adapt to any genre; it requires only two 6-sided dice plus pencil and paper to play. 1000 Blank White Cards just uses index cards and pens. Note that you could easily make an emergency game kit with the above supplies to store in a tote that you could carry to a cooling center if you need to take refuge.
* Watch for the people in government and business who oppose heat-safety precautions. Treat them as murderers, because they are definitely killing people. Argue and vote for better precautions as much as possible.
A new analysis has revealed that the United States cannot reliably count heat deaths or identify who must act when temperatures turn dangerous.
That failure can turn a clear forecast into a patchy response, leaving protection to depend on local records, budgets, and authority.
TL;DR -- People don't give a shit.
However, there are things that any individual, organization, or town can do about this even in the absence of effective government or societal action.
* Be prepared for extreme heat. Heatwaves are getting longer, hotter, and more frequent. Do not rely on governments or corporations to take precautions; they're fine with people dying. However, OSHA has some guidelines for heat safety that may be useful. The National Weather Service provides a Heat Index.
* Know the signs of heat stress and how to treat it. Here is OSHA's guide for heat-stressed workers. Wilderness first aid is helpful in cases where medical aid is unavailable for whatever reason.
* Stock extra cooling supplies. Watch for cooling towels, fans, air conditioners, etc. to go on sale and keep at least one spare. Then you can lend them to other folks whose cooling system breaks.
* Identify people in your circle of family and friends, neighborhood, work, etc. who are more vulnerable to heat stress. Keep a closer eye on them outdoors and during heatwaves generally.
* Ensure that all buildings have effective HVAC systems to maintain habitable conditions. First aid kits and rooms should stock supplies for preventing and treating heat stress.
* For outdoor activities or events, provide adequate shade and FREE supplies such as water, electrolytes, and sunscreen. EZ-Up canopy tents are affordable and portable, providing shade wherever needed; if you do a lot of large outdoor things, stock plenty of those or other shade materials. Include an indoor air-conditioned cooling area if at all possible, with clear directions to it. In dry heat when water is available, misters can help with outdoor cooling. Be willing to alter or cancel plans if heat reaches hazardous levels.
* If you are an employer or other leader of a group, make sure your facilities and events are safe. Offer heat safety training for your people. Stock appropriate supplies. Just because others are evil and stupid doesn't mean you have to be that way. There are plentiful safety guidelines available that you can customize for your local conditions, resources, and personnel.
* Towns must care for all souls on board, which now includes providing cool shelter from hot weather. People often do that with air conditioning, but there is a cheaper and greener alternative: underground temperatures remain much more stable than above ground, thus cooler than air in summer and warmer in winter. While you could sink new shelters if necessary, most towns already have larger underground spaces in the form of basements for schools, libraries, community centers, or other facilities. Especially check those that are not already in use for other purposes to see if they could be dedicated to safety uses. In areas where it is not safe or feasible to dig underground, similar benefits may be achieved with a surface shelter covered by at least 3-4 feet of soil topped with hardy plants.
To minimize stress, stock cooling centers with books, games, and other quiet entertainment. You can find these cheap or free through thrift stores, Freecycle, donations, etc. You will get the most bang for your buck from game systems such as cards or dice, which can be bought cheaply in bulk, plus books or printouts of rules. Both cards and dice have hundreds or thousands of games for them. Many more can be played with a pencil or pen and paper, so stock those supplies and their rules. String and a book of string figures will also help. The PDQ roleplaying game engine is free, easy to learn in 5 minutes, and can adapt to any genre; it requires only two 6-sided dice plus pencil and paper to play. 1000 Blank White Cards just uses index cards and pens. Note that you could easily make an emergency game kit with the above supplies to store in a tote that you could carry to a cooling center if you need to take refuge.
* Watch for the people in government and business who oppose heat-safety precautions. Treat them as murderers, because they are definitely killing people. Argue and vote for better precautions as much as possible.
