Photo: Media File.
Phoenicians need to remember to keep cool this summer. People hear this statement daily. We have a great deal of love for our city and we think we know our limits in regard to excessive outdoor heat exposure. Maybe we need to think again.
In the media, we often hear about visitors to our area becoming ill or even passing because of too long of an early morning hike or bike ride in extreme heat. We separate ourselves from that visitor’s experience and think that it can’t happen to us.
With temperatures running up to 118 degrees during the day, it’s time to assess how to keep ourselves as cool as possible and safe. Check out this National Weather Service map showing the Phoenix area’s excessive heat risks in case you’re not convinced.
Luckily, most of us have the benefit of air conditioning in our home. If you or someone you know is having trouble paying for their summer electric bills, check out this resource. It’s time to also check on your neighbors, friends, and family to make sure their utilities are working and they are safe and as cool as possible.
How does dialing 211 help?
Call 211 on your phone or check out this site, for cooling, respite, and hydration centers around the Valley. Cooling Centers are air-conditioned and indoors for visitors usually during select times, often during the business day. In the Valley, most public libraries are Cooling Centers.
A Respite Center provides indoor air-conditioning but also offers places to sit down or lie down for rest. Many churches across the Phoenix area are Respite Centers and their hours vary depending on location.
For a list of cooling, respite, and hydration centers in the area including specific addresses and hours of operation, click here.
How much water should you drink to keep hydrated in Arizona?
All three centers – cooling, respite, and hydration have plenty of cool bottled water on hand. How much water should you drink? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend men drink 15.7 cups and women drink 11.5 cups of water a day.
However, we need to drink more water than that in Arizona especially during the summer. Check out this site for details on how to keep yourself hydrated in Arizona’s desert climate.
Take care this summer, be aware of your limitations in the heat, and watch out for those around you. Children are especially vulnerable to excessive heat.
To stay cool, try some indoor or high country activities this summer, click here for ideas.
