--- title: How to Protect Yourself and Stay Healthy During a Heat Wave description: It is important to be extra mindful of those who are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. canonical: https://time.com/6986082/how-to-protect-yourself-during-a-heat-wave/ author: Solcyré Burga article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-06-05T21:55:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-01-19T14:48:54.000Z article:section: Climate og:title: How to Protect Yourself and Stay Healthy During a Heat Wave og:description: It is important to be extra mindful of those who are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. og:url: https://time.com/6986082/how-to-protect-yourself-during-a-heat-wave/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0b8f82998b70f244/6998c7b4f1b08236036f1745/heat-wave.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: heat-wave og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How to Protect Yourself and Stay Healthy During a Heat Wave twitter:description: It is important to be extra mindful of those who are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0b8f82998b70f244/6998c7b4f1b08236036f1745/heat-wave.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How to Protect Yourself and Stay Healthy During a Sweltering Heat Wave  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Updated: Jan 19, 2026 2:48 PM UTCPublished: Jun 5, 2024 9:55 PM UTC  It's important to take care of yourself during instances of extreme heat. It's important to take care of yourself during instances of extreme heat.Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Images: Puripat1981/Getty Images, kickimages/Getty Images)  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Updated: Jan 19, 2026 2:48 PM UTCPublished: Jun 5, 2024 9:55 PM UTC People across the U.S. are starting to feel the brunt of the first major heat wave of the season, which is expected to bring scorching temperatures that could reach in the three-digit threshold across the Eastern and Midwestern regions this week. More than [160 million Americans in and around](https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/heat-wave-with-100-degree-temps-affect-170-million/1786492) metros including New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., have been dealing with intense humidity since the night of the Summer Solstice, which fell on Friday, according to Accuweather. The sweltering heat could cause the “most intense heat wave” Chicago has ever seen,[ meteorologists](https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/heat-wave-with-100-degree-temps-affect-170-million/1786492) predict. The current heat wave is partly caused by a [heat dome](https://time.com/6299072/what-to-know-about-heat-domes-and-how-long-they-last/), which are high-pressure regions that trap hot air. Heat domes exacerbate heat waves, which have been happening [more frequently](https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-waves) over time, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Increasing temperatures pose great risks for Americans. Extreme heat is listed as the highest climate-related fatality in the U.S.,[ per the National Weather Service](https://www.weather.gov/hazstat/). It’s a problem that also disproportionately impacts people living in low-income areas, a study published in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute[ found](https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/3/941). The extreme weather has similar impacts overseas. In the U.K., experts [predict](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/21/heatwave-expected-deaths-england-and-wales-analysis) that around 600 people could die prematurely due to the current heat wave in England and Wales. Estimates show that [just under](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment%5Fdata/file/1019896/cooling-in-uk.pdf) 5% of homes in England have air conditioning. The risks associated with heat waves look set to exacerbate over time. Last year was the [hottest year on record](https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/temperatures-rising-nasa-confirms-2024-warmest-year-on-record/)—beating out the [temperature highs set in 2023](https://time.com/6554830/2023-hottest-year-ever/). Here’s how to protect yourself during a heat wave. ## **Stay indoors as much as possible** During periods of extreme heat, residents should avoid being outdoors as much as possible. If you do exercise outside,[ experts say](https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-stay-safe-heat-wave) that it's best to do so in the early morning and late evening when temperatures are not so high. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advises people to stay in an air conditioned building, like a shopping mall or a public library, during periods of extreme heat. “Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat,”[ FEMA says](https://www.fema.gov/blog/9-ways-stay-cool-extreme-heat). ## **Protect your body** In order to stay cool, people should also wear loose, light-colored clothing that is lightweight. Staying hydrated is key to dealing with the heat, though wearing sunscreen is also important because it helps people regulate their body temperature,[ according to the University of California](https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-stay-safe-heat-wave). ## **Keep your house cool** While people should prioritize moving to an air-conditioned space, even those without air conditioning can still keep their house cool. Experts say that the most efficient way to do so is by[ blocking out sunlight](https://time.com/6295911/how-to-keep-house-cool-extreme-heat/) from entering the home through outside shading techniques, installing plants that can absorb sunlight, or using blackout curtains. It might be worthwhile to consider using insulated glass or low e-glass to help block out heat, or purchasing ceiling fans with large paddles,[ experts previously told TIME](https://time.com/6295911/how-to-keep-house-cool-extreme-heat/). However, once temperatures reach the 90s, fans are no longer efficient. **Read More**:[ _How to Keep Your Home Cool in Extreme Heat_](https://time.com/6295911/how-to-keep-house-cool-extreme-heat/) ## **Recognize the signs of heat-related illness** Residents who expose themselves to the heat are also at risk of exposing themselves to a number of heat-related illnesses, including[ heat stroke, heat exhaustion](https://time.com/6295531/heat-stroke-exhaustion-stress-differences/), heat cramps, heat rash, and more. Heat stroke is the[ most serious of](https://time.com/6294155/heat-stroke-risks/) them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and can be fatal. Symptoms include confusion, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, sweating, seizures, high body temperatures. Other forms of heat-related illness can cause headaches, nausea, general weakness, and more. It's important to seek medical help if you, or someone you know, appears to be affected by the heat. Efforts to cool the person by placing cold wet cloths on their skin, putting them in an ice bath, or soaking their clothing with cool water, can help. It is especially[ important to be cautious](https://time.com/5326479/heat-wave-health-tips/) of the elderly, pregnant women, those with preexisting health conditions, and young children, who are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6986082/how-to-protect-yourself-during-a-heat-wave/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6986082/how-to-protect-yourself-during-a-heat-wave/"},"headline":"How to Protect Yourself and Stay Healthy During a Sweltering Heat Wave","datePublished":"2024-06-05T21:55:32.000Z","dateModified":"2026-01-19T14:48:54.000Z","description":"It is important to be extra mindful of those who are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses.","url":"https://time.com/6986082/how-to-protect-yourself-during-a-heat-wave/","keywords":["extreme weather","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0b8f82998b70f244/6998c7b4f1b08236036f1745/heat-wave.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Solcyré Burga","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/"}],"articleSection":"Climate","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0b8f82998b70f244/6998c7b4f1b08236036f1745/heat-wave.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"heat-wave","caption":"","creditText":"Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Images: Puripat1981/Getty Images, kickimages/Getty Images)","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/climate/","name":"Climate"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/extreme-weather/","name":"extreme weather"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6986082/how-to-protect-yourself-during-a-heat-wave/","name":"How to Protect Yourself and Stay Healthy During a Sweltering Heat Wave"}}]}] ```