Heatwaves! One of the most tiresome, uncomfortable and dangerous natural disasters.
Granted, natural disasters are dangerous, but heatwaves have some extra danger to them. They do not only cause harm in your surroundings but in your own body. Dehydration, heatstroke, heat-induced diseases, those are some of the consequences a heatwave can produce to you if you’re not prepared for it.
For understanding it all a bit better, let’s see, what are heatwaves? Easy, they are extended periods of remarkably high temperatures for a province. How much of high temperature? It depends if it surpasses the historical medians of the area. Now how, exactly, do heatwaves occur? They happen when there is trapped air around, typically the cause is a high-pressure system that drives the air down. This cogency stops air close to the earth from going up and this newly descending air performs like a cover. It catches the hot ground air in place. And, without escalating air, there is no rain and nothing to avoid the hot air from becoming even hotter.
So now that you’re aware of the description and the functioning of a heatwave, what are the cautions that you can take for when one comes?
- Set up sunshades, Venetian blinds, or pale-colored curtains and keep them shut to maintain the sun rays and the heat out.
- Renew your windows and weather-strip doors to conserve heat out and cool air in.
- Make sure your first aid kit is well-run and train yourself in first aid assistance.
- Try to install window air conditioners, closing any fissures and cloistering if needed.
- Check A/C conduits for appropriate filling and clean filters.
- Design a strategy for wherever you and your family members and/or pets will spend time throughout a heatwave, either it is at home, work, or school, and prepare for power outages.
- Try out the contents of your emergency disaster kit in instance a power outage ensues.
- Be alert of weather predictions and the forthcoming temperature fluctuations.
- Keep yourself hydrated with a lot of water, even if you’re not thirsty. Don’t consume alcohol, sugary sodas or drinks, or other caffeinated beverages, as they will merely make thirst severer.
- Power outages are not uncommon all through heatwaves because the necessity for A/C puts too much weight on the power nets; look for a stand-in generator that mechanically preserves the A/C operating, the lights on, food and medicine from ruining, and health devices functioning.
Overall, never, ever, ever leave children or pets alone in hot vehicles! Not even for a second. And also, use sunscreen and wear baggy, pale-colored attire and a hat manufactured of breathable material.
You may wonder why I insist so much on the pale-colored things, but the answer is actually quite simple. The sun rays naturally reflect themselves in pale surfaces, sort of like when you use a mirror or crystal to reflect light, so it’s like you’re returning them towards the sky to keep them from heating your house. Yes, this actually works and is why I highly recommend you to follow this advice.