# Staying safe in a heat wave > Drink water before you’re thirsty, stay in air conditioning, avoid the hottest hours and wear light clothes. Without AC, go to a cooling center; fans may not be enough. Heat exhaustion means heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea or weakness: move somewhere cool and sip water. Heat stroke means high body temperature, confusion or fainting: call 911. Never leave anyone in a parked car. Check on older neighbors, ask about medicines that raise risk, and look into energy assistance. - URL: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=heat-wave-safety ## Step by step 1. **A heat wave is here?** Extreme heat is dangerous, especially for older adults, babies, outdoor workers and people with health conditions. Here’s how to stay safe. 2. **Stay cool and drink water.** Drink water before you’re thirsty, stay in air conditioning when you can, avoid the hottest hours, and wear light, loose clothes. 3. **No AC? Find a cooling center.** Fans may not be enough in extreme heat. Libraries, malls and city cooling centers can help. Call 211 or check your city’s website. 4. **Know the warning signs.** Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, weakness; move somewhere cool and sip water. Heat stroke: high body temperature, confusion, fainting; call 911. 5. **Never leave anyone in a parked car.** Cars heat up fast, even with windows cracked. Never leave children, older adults or pets inside, even for a minute. 6. **Check on others.** Call or visit older relatives and neighbors, especially those who live alone. Some medicines raise heat risk; ask a doctor or pharmacist. 7. **Worried about the electric bill?** Energy assistance programs in many states help with cooling costs. Ask your utility about payment plans too. ## Checklist - Drink water before you’re thirsty - Stay in AC or a cooling center - Avoid the hottest hours - Heat stroke signs? Call 911 - Never leave anyone in a parked car - Check on older neighbors ## Who’s most at risk Older adults, babies and young children, outdoor workers, people with heart, lung or kidney conditions, people taking certain medicines, and people without air conditioning. ## Stay cool - Drink water regularly, before you feel thirsty. Limit alcohol and very sugary drinks. - Stay in air conditioning as much as you can. - Avoid strenuous activity in the hottest part of the day. - Wear light, loose, light-colored clothing. - Take cool showers or baths. ## Cooling centers In extreme heat, fans alone may not prevent heat illness. Libraries, malls and city cooling centers can help. Call 211 or check your city’s website. ## Warning signs - **Heat exhaustion:** heavy sweating, cool clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, headache, weakness. Move somewhere cool, loosen clothing and sip water. Get help if symptoms get worse or last more than an hour. - **Heat stroke:** very high body temperature, confusion, slurred speech, fainting, or seizures. **Call 911**, move the person somewhere cool, and cool them with water or cloths while waiting. ## Hot cars Never leave children, older adults or pets in a parked car, even briefly or with windows cracked. ## Check on others Call or visit older relatives and neighbors twice a day during heat waves. Ask a doctor or pharmacist whether any medicines increase heat risk. ## Help with bills Energy assistance programs in many states help with cooling costs, and utilities may offer payment plans. ## Common questions ### Is a fan enough during a heat wave? In extreme heat, fans may not prevent heat illness. Air conditioning or a cooling center is safer. Source page: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety/questions/is-a-fan-enough-during-a-heat-wave ### What’s the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke? Heat exhaustion is a warning: cool down and hydrate. Heat stroke is an emergency with high body temperature and confusion: call 911. Source page: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety/questions/whats-the-difference-between-heat-exhaustion-and-heat-stroke ### What are the signs of heat stroke? Very high body temperature, confusion, slurred speech, fainting or seizures. Call 911 and cool the person while waiting. Source page: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety/questions/what-are-the-signs-of-heat-stroke ### What are the signs of heat exhaustion? Heavy sweating, cool clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, headache and weakness. Move somewhere cool and sip water. Source page: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety/questions/what-are-the-signs-of-heat-exhaustion ### Where can I go to cool off if I don’t have AC? Cooling centers, libraries and malls. Call 211 or check your city’s website for locations. Source page: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety/questions/where-can-i-go-to-cool-off-if-i-dont-have-ac ### Who is most at risk in a heat wave? Older adults, babies and young children, outdoor workers, people with chronic health conditions, and people without air conditioning. Source page: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety/questions/who-is-most-at-risk-in-a-heat-wave ### How hot does a car get in the sun? Very hot, very fast, even with windows cracked. Never leave anyone in a parked car. Source page: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety/questions/how-hot-does-a-car-get-in-the-sun ### Can I get help paying for air conditioning costs? Energy assistance programs in many states help with cooling bills. Ask your utility about payment plans too. Source page: https://explained.page/heat-wave-safety/questions/can-i-get-help-paying-for-air-conditioning-costs ## Official sources - [CDC: extreme heat](https://www.cdc.gov/) - [Ready.gov: extreme heat](https://www.ready.gov/heat) - [LIHEAP: energy bill help](https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap) To find your local office, search for: - "[your city] cooling centers" - "[your state] LIHEAP apply" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.