12 stay-safe tips for triple digit temps
| PEMCO sent an email to our insured. We found it really helpful so we would like to share. If forecast models hold true, parts of the Northwest will nudge or break triple-digit temperatures over the weekend. Whether you love the heat or prefer coastal cool, these 12 tips go beyond the usual “sunscreen and hydrate” advice to help you (safely) make the best of the hot days to come. For your home Check fan and extension cords before plugging them in. Cords that have spent the past year wrapped in tight, tidy coils can develop loose or exposed wires. Never run cords under rugs. Tape them, instead, to prevent falls. Make a DIY air conditioner. Set up a box fan in front of an open window on the cool side of the house. Set a 9”x13” pan of ice cubes in front of it so the air blows across the ice, sending chilled air into the room. On the warm side of the house, open a window and point another fan blowing out to expel hot air. And your other windows? Keep the shades down to minimize daytime heating. Reverse your ceiling fan. Flip the switch so, instead of pushing warm air down, the blades turn counter-clockwise to cool your room. Prevent falls from windows. Open windows no wider than four inches, since screens are built to pop out under light pressure. Also, move furniture away so kids can’t climb to reach open windows. Rather than relying on windows for cooling, we like heavy-gauge screen doors with sturdy locks (available online and at most hardware stores). They’re more secure and, with their large size, allow even greater air circulation than an open window. Choose plastic rather than glass for pet water bowls kept on the deck.Filed under “craziest claims we’ve ever had” are blazes started by unlikely objects that turn into fire-starting lenses when the sun beats down on them. Also, keep reading glasses and vases off sunny window sills. For your car Circulate your engine coolant when stuck in traffic. Periodically put your car in Park and gently step on the gas to circulate coolant. Keep your eye on gauges so you can get off the road at the first sign of overheating. Keep pets out of cars. In extreme heat, your pet is safest indoors in a cool, well-ventilated room. If you see a pet (or child) in distress in a hot car, here’s what to do. Cool your car quickly. Open the back windows as you blast the A/C. It will push hot air out of the car fast. Also, try these tricks to make the most of your A/C. For your family Check on vulnerable neighbors. For most of us, extreme heat is an uncomfortable annoyance. For health-compromised and elderly people, though, it can be dangerous. Check in to make sure they have a working air conditioner or fan and plenty of ice and drinking water. Offer to run errands and bring in mail (so they don’t have to go out in the heat). Consider dropping off precooked meals, so they won’t have to use the oven or stove and further heat up their homes.Give yourself a pass on chores. Gardening, home fixup and even routine exercise can wait until the heat breaks. Heat exhaustion sneaks up quickly and it’s not worth the risk. Wear a life jacket on lakes and rivers. While air temps are soaring, most local waterways won’t warm up for another month. An overboard plunge can sap the strength of even strong swimmers. Cool off a hot pet. Make a “pupsicle” for your dog. Mix canned or chopped food with a little water and pour it into a small paper cup. Add a doggie biscuit or jerky treat as the stick, freeze and peel away the paper cup. Wishing you a wonderful start to summer, – Your PEMCO Team |