Coping with Increasing Summer Heat

Summers are becoming increasingly hotter. Experts offer advice on how to manage these rising temperatures effectively.

Ice cream cones are not the only things that struggle with summer heat. Heat waves are becoming more frequent and deadly worldwide. This summer could be among the coolest for the foreseeable future according to experts.

Duane Stilwell, who moved to Guadalupe, Arizona five years ago, initially believed it would be his permanent home. Over his 68 years, he’s lived in various places including Mexico and the U.S. His occupation history spans from railway switchman to teacher in diverse locations. Now, he fears he might have to relocate again due to increasing temperatures.

Last year, Maricopa County experienced 113 consecutive days with temperatures above 100°F. Stilwell’s fig trees ceased producing fruit, and cacti began dying. Tragically, one of his neighbors died from heat stroke. This issue extends beyond Arizona. Since 1980, heat waves in the U.S. have doubled in frequency. The average heat wave season length has expanded from 40 to 70 days.

NPR’s Short Wave podcast featured insights from heat experts Kim McMahon and Nick Staab. They suggest numerous strategies to mitigate heat effects:

• Avoid outdoor activities during peak heat times.
• Utilize the National Weather Service’s HeatRisk tool for assessing outdoor conditions.
• Stay hydrated and consider taking cold showers to keep cool.
• Install dark curtains to block out sunlight.
• Public health departments should enhance access to cooling centers and ensure community awareness of their locations.
• Explore the concept of ‘heat days’ similar to snow days for canceling schools and events during extreme heat.
• Corporations and nations should work towards lowering greenhouse gas emissions, which are a significant cause of rising temperatures.

This discussion was part of Nature Quest, a segment that addresses listener inquiries about environmental changes. If you have questions about environmental shifts in your area, send a voice memo with your name and location to [email protected]. Your question may be featured in future episodes.

Nature Quest and other episodes of Short Wave are available sponsor-free by subscribing to Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave. You can also listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The episode’s production team included Hannah Chinn and Rachel Carlson, with editing by Rebecca Ramirez and fact-checking by Tyler Jones. Audio engineering was handled by Jimmy Keeley.