July 22, 2024, was the hottest day on record, according to NASA’s analysis of global daily temperature data. As climate change pushes temperatures higher, “heat safety” is becoming an essential part of our vocabulary.
Take the heatwave in Chicago in 1995, for example. Over 725 residents, mostly elderly, poor and Black, lost their lives due to a combination of extreme heat and lack of air conditioning. This tragic event is documented in the film Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, which highlights the disproportionate impact of heatwaves on vulnerable communities.
If you don’t have air conditioning, there are several ways to stay cool:
Open Windows at Night, Close Them During the Day: Use box fans to draw out hot air and bring in cooler air at night. In the morning, open north and west windows, then switch to east and north windows in the afternoon.
Limit Sunshine in Your Home: Keep your home cooler by closing curtains or blinds on east-facing windows in the morning and south and west windows from mid-day to early evening.
Use Cooling Machines: Try placing a bucket of ice in front of a fan, or invest in a standing air-conditioning unit that vents out a window. You can also use a fan that adds moisture to the air.
Put Wet Washcloths in the Freezer: Use them on your skin throughout the day, and try cooling your pillowcase before bedtime for a more comfortable sleep.
Visit a Local Cooling Center: Oak Park offers cooling centers where you can escape the heat and stay safe, such as Oak Park Public Library branches and Oak Park Temple at 1235 N. Harlem Ave.
Learn more about heat safety: www.oak-park.us/heatsafety24.
If you do have air conditioning, consider using these tips to reduce your usage to help cut greenhouse gas emissions, which are driving climate change. One of the best things you can do is start researching how to switch to a heat pump or mini-splits if/when your heating & cooling system fails in the next 10 years. Learn more about cutting energy use: opcan.org
And check in on your neighbors, especially the elderly, people who live alone, pregnant people and those who work outside, such as your letter carriers.
The Climate Ready Oak Park plan has an “Extreme Weather and Resiliency” section. You can find it at www.sustainoakpark.com.
Staying cool and safe in extreme heat is crucial, especially as we face the realities of a warming planet. Let’s all do our part to protect ourselves and each other.
Laurie Casey
One Earth Local, Climate Ready OP, and OPCAN