New York City is expecting 100-degree weather this week—and high temperatures, the hottest in decades, will last for a few days, because of what meteorologists refer to as a heat dome. A heat emergency is in effect with cooling centers open. Heat is no joke. It’s now the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. This is the direct result of pollution from power plants, cars, trucks, buses, and other human activities. The gases that get released when fossil fuels are burned have made the Earth hotter. As a result, days of extreme heat are more frequent and intense, and heat waves last longer.
It’s also scorching in the Hudson Valley, where I live. About two hours north of the city, it’s where many people flee—if they can—when it gets too hot in the urban jungle. It’s a typical destination for holiday weekends like July 4th, and the forecasted heat is already starting to impact planned celebrations, including my own.
Tell Congress: Support Mental Wellness Resources for Communities Facing Weather Disasters
My mom is trekking upstate from the city for the long weekend. I warned her it will be 100 here too, as we don’t have central air conditioning. Mostly we haven’t needed it. When we first moved here 13 years ago, there were at most a few uncomfortable nights per summer. But the number of nights has grown, and we now have window air conditioners in the bedrooms. If need be, we can eat dinner in a bedroom, I joked. My mom is rock-star-vigorous, but older people are considered at risk of heat-related complications during periods of extreme heat. I’m not messing around. Other groups sensitive to heat include babies, children, pregnant people, and outdoor workers.
Thanks to Moms’ copious extreme heat resources, I already know how to stay safe during this heat dome. I’m staying out of the hot midday sun, wearing very light but covering clothing, and I have my family on an amped up hydration schedule. Popsicles for all, all the time! For excellent advice on making it through extreme heat safely, check out the extreme heat resources below. Here’s to staying cool!
1. Health Impacts of Extreme Heat
Want to know how to safeguard health in times of intense heat? This resource covers direct and indirect harms from heat, explains the signs of heat-related illnesses, and offers tips on what to do when experiencing heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps. A must read.
2. Extreme Heat and Latino Communities
Learn why the Latino community is especially vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat. Hispanic or Latino individuals are disproportionately represented in the outdoor workforce, which includes farmworkers, construction workers, first responders, and utility workers. Read more.
3. Air Pollution, Extreme Heat, and Latina Maternal Health
Pregnancy is a time of extreme sensitivity for all. Children exposed to extreme heat in the womb are at risk of specific health harms. Impacts of extreme heat include pregnancy loss as well as preterm birth and low birth weight and are disproportionately high in Latino communities owing to exposure in living and working environments. Read on to safeguard your pregnancy in extreme heat.
4. Extreme Heat and Black Communities
Places across the United States with large Black populations experience higher temperatures on average, making Black communities uniquely vulnerable. They are more likely to live in areas with high levels of air pollution, limited access to green spaces, and inadequate infrastructure for cooling. This is especially true in urban settings crowded with buildings, full of heat-absorbing concrete, and without cooling vegetation like trees. Check out this resource for background and safety concerns.
5. Air Pollution, Extreme Heat, and Black Maternal Health
Black mothers in the U.S. experience drastically high maternal and infant mortality rates—they’re three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Extreme weather induced by the climate crisis, especially extreme heat, also disproportionately impacts Black communities. This unique vulnerability stems from health risks related to historic racism and living closer to sources of pollution. Read more.
6. How Can I Protect My Kids in Extreme Heat?
This Mom Detective Q&A is full of tips for what to do—and which local advisories and indexes to check—when the temperature soars. It details everything caregivers need to know about slowing down, where to play, and how to protect kids from heat exhaustion and other impacts on extreme heat days whether they’re at home, daycare, or summer camp. There are even tips on how to protect kids from burning themselves on wildly hot playground materials.
7. Climate Change and Mental Health
If extreme heat is making you anxious, you’re not alone. More people than ever are reporting feeling worried about climate change. Heat waves have been associated with increased anxiety, depression, and suicide rates, as well as increased rates of aggression and interpersonal violence. Living with the ongoing threat of climate change can also cause feelings of distress. If you’re feeling distressed, this resource is full of information for you.
Tell Congress: Support Mental Wellness Resources for Communities Facing Weather Disasters