Extreme heat

Why this one leads

NWS and CDC treat extreme heat as a leading weather killer in the United States. In the low desert it does not need a named storm. A week of nights that never cool, plus an air conditioner that fails, is enough. Ready.gov’s heat page asks you to find shade, drink water, limit sun in the hottest hours, and never leave children, adults who cannot exit, or pets in a parked car. Interior temperatures climb in minutes.

Know where you would go if your cooling failed: a friend’s house, a mall, a library, a city cooling center. Maricopa County and city sites publish cooling locations when the forecast demands them. Check the morning of, not a bookmark from last July.

Warning signs, in public language

CDC describes heat exhaustion as heavy sweating, weakness, cold or clammy skin, a fast weak pulse, nausea, cramps, or fainting. Move the person to a cooler place, loosen clothes, cool them with wet cloths or a cool bath, and offer sips of water. Get medical help if they are vomiting, getting worse, or not improving.

Heat stroke is the emergency: confusion, slurred speech, a throbbing headache, a strong rapid pulse, possible loss of consciousness, and skin that may be hot and dry or damp. Call 911. Move them to a cooler place and cool them aggressively with whatever you have, such as cool water on the skin and air movement. This page is not a diagnosis. If you are unsure, call.

• Drink before you feel desperate. In a heat emergency, CDC advises not to wait for thirst.
• Water is the drink. Alcohol and very sugary drinks make the day worse.
• Check on neighbors, especially older adults and anyone who lives alone.
• Dress light. Close blinds on the sun side. Use fans only if the room is not already dangerously hot; fans do not replace cooling once indoor temperatures are extreme. Follow the current CDC note on fans if a heat alert mentions them.
• Outdoor work and exercise move to early morning or not at all when an excessive-heat warning is up.