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Take care of yourself
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Have a sports drink or salty snack to replace salt and minerals lost through sweat.
- Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks.
- Take a cool shower or bath.
- Use air conditioning or a fan.
- Don’t use a fan to blow extremely hot air on yourself. Use it instead to create cross-ventilation.
- Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.
- Avoid using your stove or oven.
Take care of those around you
- Check in on people age 50+ and vulnerable neighbors living alone during warm weather — twice a day is best.
- Never leave a person or a pet in a hot car.
- Check regularly on babies and toddlers, those age 50+, people who are pregnant, people taking mental health medications and people with heart disease or high blood pressure for symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
- Share a fan.
- Invite a friend to a splash pad, movie, mall or museum.
If you must be out in the heat
- Limit your outdoor activity to the coolest hours of day.
- Rest often in shady or cool areas.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Choose a product labeled “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection”.
- Pack extra water. If you don’t drink it, you might come across someone who looks like they could use it.
Last reviewed July 18, 2023
