Heat Domes: How to Be Ready

In June 2021, as healthcare emergency manager in Seattle, I experienced firsthand the devastating impacts of a heat dome – like the one portrayed in a recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

Heat domes are a type of heat wave, where hot air becomes trapped over a region for an extended period of time.

What we once thought of as a once-in-a-millennium event are now becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change. In 2021, the Pacific Northwest heat dome pushed temperatures across the region to unprecedented levels. The consequences were catastrophic: hospitals overwhelmed, critical equipment overheating, 9-1-1 call centers inundated and, tragically, hundreds of lives lost.

Living through the heat dome – and witnessing its impact on my community – transformed my academic understanding of heat’s impact on human health into an urgent mission to build community preparedness and resilience. Each year, heat kills more Americans than any other type of extreme weather event, yet many people remain unaware of the simple actions that can save lives during a heat wave.

Often, simple, low-cost interventions can mean the difference between life and death. It’s time we all saw ourselves as first responders in a warming world, equipped with the knowledge to protect ourselves and our most vulnerable community members.

Before a heat wave:

• Regularly check the forecast
• When a heat wave is coming, try to get any outdoors activities done before the heat.
• Let your friends, family, and neighbors know that a heat wave is on the way.
• Create a plan: If it becomes too hot indoors, where will you go to cool off? This could be a cooling shelter set up by your city, a mall or movie theater or even a place to swim.
• Learn the signs of heat stress and heat stroke. Heat stroke is an emergency, and the difference between life or death often comes down to how quickly a bystander calls for help.

During a heat wave:

• Avoid strenuous physical activities in the heat.
• Stay hydrated and make you are eating food with salts to replenish electrolytes
• If you don’t have access to an air conditioner, taking a cold shower, wetting your skin in front of a fan, and putting your feet in cool water can help you stay comfortable.
• Get creative. During the Pacific Northwest heat dome, we wet clothing, froze them, and then put them on to stay cool. You can even put wet sheets on your bed and blast a fan to help you sleep.
• Check on your family, friends or neighbors. This is where knowing the difference between heat stress and heat stroke can save a life.
• If you must go outdoors, take it easy, drink plenty of water and try to stay in the shade. Don’t forget your sunscreen and hat!

For more tips on staying safe, check out Americares 5 Steps to Ready: Extreme Heat.

Nathaniel Matthews-Trigg, MPH, CEM, is Americares associate director of climate and disaster resilience. He works closely with health providers and clinic staff serving low-income and uninsured patients, ensuring they have the resources to protect the most vulnerable patients from hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, extreme heat and other weather events intensified by climate change.