By Stephanie Dunn Ashley
School is out for the summer, and as a mother of twin daughters currently home from college — I couldn’t be happier. As many of us eagerly plan our fun in the sun, whether at the beach or the pool or anywhere else, it’s important to be sure that our families are staying safe while we soak up some rays.
The ongoing climate crisis is changing the way we experience weather here in Greenwich. Unusually hot days and heat waves are both a natural part of our weather patterns, but over the past several decades — heat waves are becoming more frequent and more intense and are lasting longer. Last year was the hottest year on record, and this heat accounted for 2,300 heat-related deaths in 2023 alone.
As we emerge from the first heatwave of the summer, know that there are three things to remember about beating the heat: slow down, stay hydrated and spend time indoors. Don’t forget about our furry friends, either! Never leave them in a hot vehicle, be aware of the pavement temperature on their paws, and avoid taking long walks during the hottest parts of the day.
Take some time to learn the signs of heat-related health conditions:
• Heat cramps are an early sign of trouble and include heavy sweating with muscle pains or spasms.
• Heat exhaustion is a more severe condition — keep an eye out for clammy skin; a fast or weak pulse, nausea or vomiting; tiredness or weakness; and a headache, dizziness or passing out. Try to cool down and get medical help if symptoms get worse or last longer than an hour, or if the person vomits or is acting confused.
• Heat stroke is a deadly condition that requires immediate medical help — look for a high body temperature; hot, red, dry or damp skin; a fast or strong pulse; a headache or dizziness; or nausea, confusion and passing out. If you notice these signs, call 911 immediately.
In addition to more intense heat waves, climate experts are also predicting an above-average number of hurricanes over the Atlantic Ocean due to warm sea temperatures and the arrival of La Niña weather conditions. If you don’t have a kit or a plan for how you will weather the next storm, now is the time to get prepared.
My family has a plan for both if we need to evacuate and if we need to shelter safely at home, and we have emergency kits for both circumstances (one each for all five family members, including our dog). You can visit www.redcross.org/kit for tips on what to include, but some things you may not think about that we have in our kits are family photos, a list of medications and doctors information, and some pet toys for our beloved Benson.
I am so excited to spend more time with my daughters this summer, and it is much easier to relax on the beach knowing that I have our family’s disaster plan already taken care of.
Stephanie Dunn Ashley, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross, Metro New York North Chapter.
