Gentleman Pirate Club is all about helping the common folks prepare for disasters and emergencies. We’ve talked about what to do during an earthquake. We discussed what to do when hurricane strikes. We even taught you what to do when you’re stranded in a deserted island. The United States is in the midst of dangerously high temperatures and it’s more important now than ever to share what we know on what to do to survive a heat wave.
Preparation is key to any disaster. The more you are prepared, the better your chances of surviving. If you haven’t prepped for the heat wave, there’s still time. Read further to know what you need to do to survive a heat wave then spring into action.
How to Survive the Heat Wave At Home
Turn on the Airconditioning
Let’s start with your home. If you have airconditioning, you’re already in a good place when it comes to dealing with the scorching heat. However, this will take a toll on your expenses as your electricity will likely shoot through the roof.
To make the most of your AC, check the filters if they are fitted and working properly. You may need to have professionals give your system a thorough cleaning so it won’t fail you during this heat wave.
When the AC is on, close all the windows and doors.
Use Fans
In the hours or days you have to turn the AC off, you still need your home to be heat wave-proof. Electric fans will stir the air in your home and provide a little bit of relief from the heat. A better way to use your fans is to place a tub of ice in front so the air becomes cold.
Exhaust fans, meanwhile, will help suck out the warm air and leave your home cooler. Turn them on during the hottest period of the day.
Block the Heat
To survive the heat wave at home, you need to make keep the heat out. Opening the doors and windows to let the hot air out is not really effective. In fact, this may do the opposite. If the sun shines on your open doors and windows, your home will get even hotter.
Let the exhaust fans their job and close the windows and doors. Use blackout curtains to further keep the heat out. Another option is to apply reflective materials on your windows. Just make sure they won’t bother anyone outside, particularly those who are driving.
Keep Cool
If you have a pool at home, you can keep cool anytime you want. If you don’t, there are other ways to survive the heat wave.
Do you have a bath tub? Fill it with water and get in. Do you want the pool experience? Go buy an inflatable pool or an above-ground pool. You can also do the redneck pool by … the back of a pickup truck then filling it with water. Take a shower every now and then
Splash some water on your face. Get a washcloth and wipe it on your skin to cool it off. You can also place the wet washcloth on your head or face.
How to Survive the Heat Wave When Outdoors
Before leaving your home or office, apply some sunscreen on your skin, particularly on the exposed areas. Also, make sure you’re wearing something made of cotton. Other fabrics will keep your body from cooling off.
Aside from a long-sleeved top and pants, wear your sunglasses and a hat. Bring an umbrella, as well.
If you have to be out under the sun, avoid open spaces as much as possible. Stay or walk under a shade. Go to an airconditioned building if you just need to pass the time. Check out other ways to survive a heat wave when outdoors here.
How to Survive the Heat Wave When In Your car
Never leave your children or pets inside a parked car, particularly when it is scorching hot. Hot car death is real and many lives have been lost because of this.
Anyone who has a car knows how hot it gets inside after leaving it parked under the sun even for just a moment. The time it takes for you to close the door, buy something in the store and come back is enough to jeopardize the life of a little child or a pet. Each year, around 38 children die from heatstroke after being left inside a vehicle. PETA reports that 90 pets reportedly died hot car deaths since 2018.
Now imagine this happening during a heat wave.
To survive a heat wave, never stay or leave anyone in a parked car when it is out in the open. When you have to leave your car, park it in a garage or under a shade.
If you’re parking outside, put the sunshades or window visors on the windshield and rear window. Cover the steering wheel with a small towel and throw blankets over the seats. Ideally, your dashboard should be upholstered or covered by some fabric.
Before getting down, roll the windows down slightly to promote ventilation. Make sure not to open it wide enough for someone to open the door and take all your valuable stuff. Speaking of, don’t leave valuables inside. Extreme heat can damage or melt them.
Before getting in a parked car, leave the car door open for a while to let the heat out. Turn your solar-powered fan on to stir the air and lower the temperature inside your car.
Drink Plenty of Water
Despite the readily available drinking water at home, some people still fail to drink the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses or around 2 liters each day. You may want to start doing this if you wish to survive the heat wave.
Since you’ll be dealing with intense heat for quite some time, it’s suggested that you sip water all throughout the day. The important thing is to stay hydrated so you won’t be affected by the heat wave, which is expected to bring record-breaking temperatures all throughout the country.
Take a BPA-free water bottle with you anywhere so you can take a sip anytime to lower your body temperature. A hydration bladder will also work, especially if you’re out for a jog or hike. Though, you might want to skip doing any strenuous exercise or activity while there is a heat wave.
Build Your Heat Wave Emergency Kit
A heat wave is one of the many emergency situations that you should be prepping for. Just like with any other disaster, you must have an emergency kit or bug out bag ready.
A heat wave emergency kit is like any other emergency kits though you need to make sure you have plenty of water. To survive a heat wave, you’ll also need sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, sun glasses, and clothes that protect your skin from the UV rays.
As for the usual suspects, don’t forget your non-perishables foods, camping stove and cookset, flashlight, camping lantern, fire starter, whistle, mirror, pocket knife, multi-tool, paracord and a first aid kit among others.
Follow the Gentleman Pirate Club to receive more useful tips on how to survive a heat wave. You’ll also learn numerous survival tips for different kinds of emergencies. If you know of such tips that can help everyone survive a heat wave, please feel free to share them on the comment section.
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