Mon – Fri: 8:30 – 4:00
Ewing, NJ 08628
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.
The old adage states that the best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Summer starts next week and if last year’s summer temperatures are any indication of the impacts of extreme heat across the globe, it’s time to start thinking ahead about how we might best deal with a period of prolonged high heat. While we in New Jersey did not see temperatures at dangerous levels for an extended period like other US cities broiling in the summer heat did, we did experience uncomfortable periods. Our high levels of humidity also plagued our summer conditions raising the “heat index” to uncomfortable levels. Humid heat makes it harder for the body to release heat and cool off and thus is more dangerous at lower temperatures.
You may have seen the “NJ Scientific Report on Climate Change" produced in 2020 that warned that “New Jersey is warming at a faster rate than the global average and faster than any other state in the Northeastern United States”[1] It warns that extreme heat events are expected to become more frequent, impact more areas, and last longer. We are already experiencing the impacts of extreme heat. 15 of the 20 hottest years recorded in New Jersey have occurred since 2000 with the summer of 2022 ranking as the third warmest summer in New Jersey since recordkeeping began in 1895.
Extreme heat events may not be as visibly dramatic as other natural disasters like hurricanes, tornados, or floods, but they are far deadlier. In 2022 alone, an average of 700 deaths and more than 67,000 emergency department visits in the United States were attributed to extreme heat events such as heatwaves.”
When you combine high air temperatures with the relative humidity it becomes difficult for perspiration to evaporate. If the perspiration is not able to evaporate, the body cannot reduce its temperature. When the relative humidity is high, the rate of evaporation from the body decreases. In other words, the human body feels warmer in humid conditions. There is direct relationship between the air temperature and relative humidity and the heat index, meaning as the air temperature and relative humidity increase (decrease), the heat index increases (decreases).
Extreme heat is defined as a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. During a period of extreme heat your body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to death.
Extreme heat events can greatly impact many aspects of daily life and wellbeing. Outside of overall daytime and nighttime discomfort, exposure to extreme heat is dangerous to all people, especially vulnerable populations. Given this, typical daily activities such as going outdoors to the grocery store or pharmacy, taking a walk, or even staying at home without access to an air conditioning unit can become dangerous. Increased nighttime temperatures can lead to sleep deprivation, which has negative physical and mental health outcomes.
Also, extreme heat can create hazardous conditions in the built environment that we live around, such as superheating pavements, warping train tracks, and buckling roads. Communities within New Jersey’s cities are particularly at risk during extreme heat events due to the Urban Heat Island Effect, when urban areas are hotter than surrounding rural or forested areas.
This is a problem that is not going away. So, let’s review some basic information about extreme heat and help you to plan for what you might do to be better prepared.
Older adults, children, sick or overweight individuals, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions are at greater risk from extreme heat.
We offer the following tips from Ready.gov, a government website promoting emergency preparedness, to help you stay safe during the hot and humid days ahead.
Know the signs of heat-related illnesses and ways to respond. If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for advice and shelter in place if you can. If you are experiencing a medical emergency call 9-1-1.
If you suspect heat stroke, call 9-1-1 or get the person to a hospital immediately. Cool down with whatever methods are available until medical help arrives. Do not give the person anything to drink.
If you have signs of heat cramps or heat exhaustion, go to a cooler location, and cool down by removing excess clothing and taking sips of sports drinks or water. Call your healthcare provider if the symptoms get worse or last more than an hour.
As the summer season kicks off, please pay attention to possible health impacts from heat exposure, especially during heatwaves. Heat Hub NJ provides a one stop shop to learn about heat health and how to stay safe. New to Heat Hub is Chill Out NJ, an interactive mapping application to help folks find cool places around the state to get relief from the heat. Ewing currently has two cooling centers, the Hollowbrook Community Center, and the Mercer County Library on Scotch Road.
Heat is a leading weather-related killer generating hundreds of fatalities every year. Follow the recommendations above to be smart and safe during the summertime heat.
[1][1] https://heat-hub-new-jersey-njdep.hub.arcgis.com/