Albany County Department of Health Kristen Navarette, Commissioner MD, MPH, FAAP, DipABLM 175 Green Street Albany, NY 12202 Phone (518) 447-4580 Fax (518) 447-4698 Mon – Fri, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Climate Change and Extreme Heat

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Extreme heat and climate change

Because of climate change, we are having more heat waves, and they are lasting longer.

Extreme heat causes more deaths in the U.S. than any other kind of weather.

To see how hot it will be in your area, you can enter your zip code into the HeatRisk tool online.

Extreme heat in Albany County

Cities like Albany get hotter than nearby rural areas in the summer.

This is called the urban heat island effect. Roads and buildings soak up heat from the sun and make the air warmer.

In the summer, cities can be 15 to 20 degrees hotter than areas with more trees and open land.

Illnesses Caused by Heat

Heat rash (prickly heat)

Heat cramps

Heat cramps are painful muscle cramps that can happen when it's really hot outside.

Signs of heat cramps

Muscle cramps in the stomach, arms, or legs
Heavy sweating
Mild nausea (feeling like you might throw up)

What to do

Move the person to a cool place.
Press gently but firmly on the cramped muscle.
Stretch the muscle and hold it for 20 seconds.
Rub the area gently.
Have the person drink cool water.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion happens when your body gets too hot and starts to shut down. If it isn’t treated, it can turn into heat stroke, which is very dangerous.

Signs of heat exhaustion

Heavy sweating
Feeling faint or dizzy
Throwing up
Skin that is cool, pale, or wet
Headache
Weakness
Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)

What to do

Move the person to a cooler place.
Loosen their clothes.
Put cool, wet cloths on their neck, face, and arms.
Give them small sips of water, about half a glass every 15 minutes (up to 1 quart).
If they start throwing up or don’t feel better, get medical help right away.

Heat stroke (sun stroke)

Heat stroke (also called sun stroke) is very serious and can be life-threatening.

It happens when your body gets extremely hot and can’t cool down.

You need to call 911 right away if you suspect you or somebody else is suffering from heat stroke.

Signs of heat stroke

Hot, dry, red skin
Fast heartbeat
Very high body temperature (104°F or higher)
Confusion or acting strange
Trouble staying awake or passing out
Fast and shallow breathing

What to do

Call 911 right away.
Move the person to a cool place.
Cool them down quickly by:
- Giving them a cool bath or shower,
- Using wet cloths or sponges with a fan,
- Putting ice packs wrapped in cloth on their neck, wrists, ankles, and armpits, and
- Covering them with cool, wet sheets.

How you can beat the heat

Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and other heat illnesses.
Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
Avoid alcohol, coffee, or sugary drinks when it's really hot.
Wear light-colored, loose, and lightweight clothes.
Plan outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day—avoid being outside from 11:00AM to 4:00PM.
Stay in the shade whenever you can.
Take breaks often if you're working or playing outside.
Be ready for power outages.
Keep cool using fans, air conditioners, or wet cloths.
If you don't have air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
Know when it's too hot for a fan.
Make an emergency kit with water, snacks, and medical supplies.
Never leave kids or pets in a hot car.
Check on friends, neighbors and family; especially older adults.

How heat can affect your health

Extreme heat can make health problems worse, especially for people with:

Heart disease
Breathing problems like asthma
Stress or anxiety

Very hot weather can cause power outages.

When the power goes out, people may lose access to important medical equipment or medicine.
This can lead to more people needing help at hospitals and clinics.

Helpful Information