What should I do in an Extreme Heat Watch?

Getting an Extreme Heat Watch is your signal to get ready. A Watch means conditions are favorable for an extreme heat event that is not yet certain¹, so you get a short head start before it arrives. Use it. The National Weather Service advises planning to suspend major outdoor activities if a Warning follows. If you don't have air conditioning at home, find the nearest cooling shelter now, or arrange to stay with family or friends who do¹. Other free options are places like libraries and malls. Lining up that cool place early is the most useful thing you can do.

Heat doesn't hit everyone equally, so use the Watch to check on the people who feel it hardest. The highest risk falls on adults 65 and older, infants and young children, pregnant women, people with heart disease or asthma, and anyone working or exercising outside². Call or visit family, friends, and neighbors, especially those with a chronic illness or who live alone, and check on pets too². Never leave a child, a disabled person, or a pet in a parked car; on a hot day a child can die inside one in about ten minutes³.

Before the heat peaks, line up the simple ways to keep cool and know where each one stops. Drinking water on hot days helps keep you hydrated, whether or not you are active². Fans can help, especially with a damp cloth held against your skin, but eventually it gets too hot even for a fan⁴⁵. When a fan isn't enough, air conditioning is the answer.

Learn the warning signs of heat illness now, while things are calm, so you can spot them fast when the heat arrives. The signs that your body is overheating include muscle cramps, heavy sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, weakness, and nausea. Know these, and know when to seek medical care². A Watch is the quiet window before all of that. Get set now, and a Warning will find you ready.