Summer Hazards Resources: Safety during hot weather and poor air quality

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Summers in Tumwater are getting hotter and longer, with the potential for dangerous conditions rising. Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States. High temperatures can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration, and can worsen existing heart, lung, and mental health conditions. When heat events coincide with poor air quality, including wildfire smoke, health risks further increase.

Anyone can get ill from extreme heat, but older adults, young children, outdoor workers, people with chronic medical conditions, and people without access to cooling are most vulnerable. It is crucial to check on your family, friends, and neighbors, especially if they live alone or have chronic health conditions.

If you have access to a community space with cooling, consider extending hours or inviting your community members during extreme heat events. Refer to Thurston County’s cooling centers page for a list of places open to the public to cool down during hot weather.

Heat-related illness and smoke-related illness are both largely preventable with proper planning, awareness, and protective measures. Stay informed by following heat risk advisories and tracking air quality concerns: Heat Risk Map (National Weather Service), Heat Forecast Tools, AirNow Air Quality Index. Review the Summer Hazards Resources for relevant actions you can take.

Summer Hazards Resources

The City of Tumwater has partnered with the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) to identify relevant resources with strategies to protect your health from extreme heat and poor air quality-related impacts. Use the materials below to make an action plan for yourself or those close to you:

Americares - General Heat Action Plans and Tips: English / Spanish / Vietnamese / Chinese (Traditional) / Khmer / Thai

Americares - Heat Action Tips for People with Risk Factors: English / Spanish / Vietnamese / Chinese (Traditional) / Khmer / Thai

Washington State Department of Health - Wildfire Smoke: Know the Symptoms: English / Spanish / Vietnamese / Chinese (Traditional) / Khmer / Thai

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Create a Clean Room to Protect Indoor Air Quality: English / Spanish / Vietnamese / Chinese (Traditional) / Khmer / Thai

Smart911 – Program Flyer: English / Spanish / Vietnamese / Chinese (Traditional) / Khmer / Thai

To learn more, contact Alyssa Jones Wood, Sustainability Manager, at 360-754-4140 or ajoneswood@ci.tumwater.wa.us.

General heat safety precautions

heat stroke symptoms

When temperatures rise

Stay indoors and in an air-conditioned environment as much as possible unless you’re sure your body has a high tolerance for heat.
Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or a lot of sugar.
Eat more frequently, but make sure meals are balanced and light.
Never leave any person or pet in a parked vehicle.
Avoid dressing babies in heavy clothing or wrapping them in warm blankets.
Check frequently on people who are elderly, ill or who may need help. If you think you may be in need of help, arrange to have family, friends or neighbors check in with you at least twice a day throughout warm weather periods.
Make sure pets have plenty of water.
Salt tablets should only be taken if specified by your doctor. If you are on a salt-restrictive diet, check with a doctor before increasing salt intake.
If you take prescription diuretics, antihistamines, mood-altering or antispasmodic drugs, check with a doctor about the effects of sun and heat exposure.
Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun. Awnings can reduce the heat entering a house by as much as 80 percent.

If you go outside during hot weather ...

If you go outside during hot weather…

Plan strenuous outdoor activities for early or late in the day when temperatures are cooler; then gradually build up tolerance for warmer conditions.
Take frequent breaks when working outdoors.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sun block and light-colored, loose-fitting clothes when outdoors.
At first signs of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), move to a cooler location, rest for a few minutes and slowly drink a cool beverage. Seek medical attention immediately if you do not feel better.
Avoid sunburns: other than increasing your chances for skin cancer, it slows the skin’s ability to cool itself. Use a sunscreen lotion with a high SPF rating.
Avoid extreme temperature changes. A cool shower immediately after in from hot temperatures can result in hypothermia, particularly for elderly or very young people.
If air conditioning is not available, Stay on the lowest floor of the building, out of the sunshine.
Ask your doctor about any prescription medicine you keep refrigerated. (If the power goes out, most medicines will be fine to leave in a closed refrigerator for at least three hours.)
Keep a few bottles of water in your freezer; if the power goes out, move them to your refrigerator and keep the doors shut.

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Summer Hazards Resources: Safety during hot weather and poor air quality