10+ Heat Wave Safety Tips & Resources From CDC, Red Cross, & NOAA

You might already know some safety tips and precautions during a heat wave, such as staying hydrated, applying sunscreen, limiting outdoor time, checking four-wheelers, monitoring vulnerable family members, and watching for signs of illness.

Below are some tips given by the American National Red Cross before, during, and after a heat wave to protect yourself from illness:

Before: How To Prepare For A Heat Wave

Tip 1: Learn How to Stay Hydrated

Adults should drink at least 3-4 gallons of water daily. To know whether you are drinking enough water, check the color of your urine. If it is bright yellow, this indicates you need to be hydrated more. Next, avoid caffeine and alcohol, as these dehydrate the body quickly. You can add salt or electrolytes to water if you sweat a lot. Keep getting advice from your doctor about preparing if you have a medical condition.

Tip 2: Gather Emergency Supplies

You should gather and organize food, water, and medicine in a go-kit and stay-at-home-kit. Each house member should have one gallon of clean water in case of power outages. Always wear sunscreen and carry a wide-brimmed hat. Keep enough supplies for three days in the go-kit, including backup batteries and chargers for phones, CPAP, and wheelchairs.

Meanwhile, a stay-at-home kit should have supplies for two weeks. Keep your medicines and medical equipment for one month (keep away from children). Medical and personal documents, including bills, should be kept handy, and your prescriptions should always be available when you go out.

Tip 3: Make a Plan to Stay Cool

During a heat wave, the temperature is above 90^oF (32.3^oC). Hence, you should not rely on electric fans. Instead, move to an air-conditioned room or take a cool shower bath. Make sure your air conditioning is in working condition. If there is a power cut, you can move to a public library, mall, or cooling center. Keep checking on local government or community groups for additional resources.

Tip 4: Learn Emergency Skills

You should be aware of heat illness and how to recognize it, and you should learn CPR and first aid. If the utilities are unavailable, be prepared to live without gas, water, and power. Keep a backup power plan ready to charge your essential devices or plan your electric needs.

Tip 5: Plan to Stay Connected

You should understand the types of alerts you receive and plan accordingly to respond to them. For example, WATCH means- Be Prepared, and WARNING means- Take Action. For emergency alerts, you can sign up with your local government. You should have a backup inverter or battery to charge your phone. A battery-powered radio helps receive alerts.

During: How To Prepare For A Heat Wave

Tip 1: Stay Hydrated

NOAA suggests drinking plenty of normal water and avoiding decaffeinated fluids such as tea and coffee. You should also eat easy-to-digest food such as fruits and salads, as these will increase your body's hydration. Packed food should be stored in the refrigerator, and meat and dairy should be avoided for some time, as they can quickly spoil in high temperatures.

Tip 2: Stay Cool

You can switch off the electric fans and spend time in air-conditioned rooms or public places. Portable electric fans should be used to exhaust hot air from rooms when the room temperature goes above 90°F (32.3^oC).

Tip 3: Prevent Heat illness

Many vulnerable groups are quickly affected by heat waves, and their chances of getting ill intensify. You should always check on your friends, neighbors, and such groups to help them prevent heat illness. People who are at great risk include older adults, infants, pregnant women, people with disabilities/medical conditions, people with limited resources, etc.

For Franki Kalogianis, hurricane season in Florida comes with a particular kind of dread. The days of preparation leading up to it and the powerless aftermath that follows. Hurricane Milton put her through exactly that: no electricity for days, no AC in 90-degree heat, and a refrigerator full of groceries she'd just bought slowly going to waste. A neighbor's offhand recommendation pointed her toward the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus with Smart Transfer Switch, and what sold her was the silence. When the technician ran the demo and cut the main power, her refrigerator, AC, TV, microwave, and CPAP machine kept running without a single flicker. Read more such real-life Jackery Stories that showcase how solar generators have become essential during emergencies. 

After: How To Prepare For A Heat Wave

Tip 1: Take care of yourself

Heat waves can affect your mental health or mood and increase anxiety or stress. It is expected to have such feelings during these times, to calm yourself, eat healthy food, and get enough sleep. You can also call or text 1-800-985-5990 (Disaster Distress Helpline) if you need to talk to someone.

Tip 2: Allow Ventilation

After the temperature returns to normal, you can start opening the windows and blinds of your home. This will allow the fresh air to circulate and exhaust the hot air. Continue to stay hydrated by drinking water.

Tip 3: Go For Nature’s Walk

If you have a forest or park nearby, you can walk early or late in the evening for fresh air. Be aware that you should take this step only after the heat wave is over. Before you step out, stay updated on news and broadcasts. A nature walk will help you calm your mind, and you will feel much better than before.

Recognize The Warning Signs

According to NOAA, leaving a toddler, pet, or disabled person locked in a car is not safe. Estimation says that kids can die within ten minutes after getting into a car. 971 Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH) has occurred since 1998. In 2024, 3 PVH deaths occurred. An untold number of pets die from hypothermia each year as the temperature inside a parked vehicle is extremely dangerous for them.

Pregnant women are also at high risk as heat waves can give rise to adverse birth outcomes such as premature birth, low weight, and congenital cataracts. People with disabilities or chronic diseases are more likely to have health problems than healthy people.

Ensure safety tips with your children; never leave them unattended in a vehicle. Always check the backseat and leave something valuable as a reminder. Keep the keys away so that the children might not reach them. If you see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately.

There are different types of heat illness, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Below are the types of disease, their symptoms, and safety measures you must take during that time:

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps occur when you lose a large amount of salt and water from your body. There are muscle spasms or pain followed by heavy sweating. Once you get heat cramps, you should immediately move to a cool place and drink water with electrolytes. If you have heart problems or the cramps last longer than one hour, get medical help right away.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a severe form recognized by heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, fast pulse, nausea, muscle pain, tiredness, headache, and even passing out. To prevent heat exhaustion, you must move to a cool place, loosen tight clothing, cool your body by fanning or taking a cool shower, and sip water slowly. In case you have hallucinations or vomiting and the symptoms last for more than an hour, seek immediate medical help.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is the most fatal of all the heat illnesses, and it can even be deadly. The symptoms include a high body temperature of over 104°F (40^oC), dry and damp skin, fast and strong pulse, headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and passing out. Call 911 immediately when you see or have these symptoms; later on, move to a cool place, use a wet cloth to cool the body, misting or fanning, and do not drink/ give the person or drink anything in case of a heat stroke.

Jackery Solar Generators for Heat Wave 

When a heat wave hits and the grid goes down, the difference between comfort and crisis often comes down to whether you have backup power ready. With NOAA forecasting an above-normal summer across most of the US and AccuWeather identifying California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington as the highest-risk states for intense heat and outages, preparing your home with a dependable solar generator isn't something that can be neglected. Jackery Solar Generators are built exactly for these moments. These are quiet, solar-rechargeable, and capable of keeping your home's essentials running without noise, fumes, or complicated installation.

Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus + SolarSaga 500X (×2)

For households that need essential home coverage through a multi-day heat wave outage, the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus paired with two solar panels is the most capable setup in the lineup. When expanded up to 60kWh, it can power home essentials for days on a single charge, handling everything from refrigerators and fans to air conditioners and water heaters across both 120V and 240V circuits. The 0ms UPS switchover means there's zero interruption the moment the grid cuts out, and two solar panels keep it recharged through sunlight, so you are never dependent on the grid to refuel. 

Appliances Running Time

• Refrigerator (300W) = 12.2H
• AC (1000W) = 4.1H
• Air Cooler (200W) = 17.1H
• Ice Maker (200W) = 17.1H
• Portable Fan (100W) = 28.6H

Who Should Buy This

If you own a mid-to-large home and want an essential home battery backup system that can handle a prolonged summer outage without fuel, noise, or stress, the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus + SolarSaga 500X (×2) is the setup designed for you.

Customer Review

This product is such a peace of mind item that everyone should have in their home. We realized that with the implementation of AI and its Data centers, a power outage is imminent in our very near future. We did a simulation at the house after install, and we are so relieved to know we’ll be ok. We bought 2 extra batteries and a solar panel.

— Tracy.

Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus + SolarSaga 500X (×1)

The Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus paired with one Jackery SolarSaga 500X Solar Panel is the right balance of power and practicality for homeowners who want serious backup coverage without a full whole-home installation. It offers enough output to keep a refrigerator, fans, lights, and a home office running simultaneously, and the solar panel recharges it in a few hours using sunlight. It expands up to 21kWh as your needs grow, operates at library-quiet noise levels, and requires no installation beyond rolling it into place and plugging it in.

Appliances Running Time

• Refrigerator (300W) = 9.5H
• AC (1000W) = 3.0H
• Air Cooler (200W) = 13.7H
• Ice Maker (200W) = 13.7H
• Portable Fan (100W) = 25.0H

Who Should Buy This

If you are looking for a mid-range solar backup solution that covers your most important home circuits, recharges itself from the sun, and doesn't require professional installation or ongoing fuel costs, this Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus + SolarSaga 500X (×1) is the most practical choice for peak heat season.

Customer Review

I enjoy using my solar generator. We had lost power for a few hours, and I was able to get lights and watch TV. So, I would recommend this product to anyone looking to invest in solar generators.

— Rhonda F.

Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus

For households that want dependable backup power ready to go without solar panels or any setup complexity, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is the straightforward portable power station solution. It can keep a refrigerator, WiFi router, fans, lights, and essential devices running through a heat wave outage, and paired with the transfer switch, it can cover key circuits across your kitchen, living room, and home office. The LFP battery is built for over a decade of reliable use, the rollable luggage-style design lets you move it wherever it's needed most, and the whole thing is as simple as plugging it in and pressing power on.

Appliances Running Time

• Refrigerator (300W) = 9.5H
• AC (1000W) = 3.0H
• Air Cooler (200W) = 13.7H
• Ice Maker (200W) = 13.7H
• Portable Fan (100W) = 25.0H

Who Should Buy This

If you want a portable power station that gives your household reliable coverage through this summer's heat emergencies and can be easily transported anywhere, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is the most accessible starting point.

Customer Review

I was hopeful when I purchased my Jackery 3600 Plus, but after a few weeks, I am very pleased. We had one short power outage of just a few minutes, and the unit worked seamlessly through it; the TV and internet were never lost. That was my test using it as a UPS, and it worked flawlessly.

— Mtibbs.

Heat Wave Safety Tips FAQs

How to stay safe in a heat wave?

According to UNICEF, you should know how hot and humid it will be that particular week or month. To stay safe during a heat wave, you should keep an emergency kit that will keep you cool and hydrated. Also, note the contact number of the nearest healthcare provider and use water coolers and air conditioners. Remember to wear sunscreen and carry hats/umbrellas whenever you leave.

How can we protect ourselves from heat waves?

Wear lightweight, loose, light-colored clothes, polarized glasses, and light but protected footwear whenever you step out. Avoid drinks like tea or coffee, as they dehydrate the body. Instead, rehydrate with homemade beverages like lemon water, buttermilk, rice water, etc.

What to eat during a heat wave?

Fresh fruits and veggies, such as melons, strawberries, cucumbers, citrus, and gourds, have a high water content and will keep you hydrated.

Heat Wave Safety Tips Conclusion

To stay protected from scorching heat waves, you should follow disaster management organizations' heat wave safety tips. During heat waves, a particular group of people are more vulnerable to illness, including older people, people with medical conditions, infants, children, pregnant women, and pets.

To help them during times like this, you should stay organized with the essential kits for weeks and months. An emergency backup power system like the Jackery Solar Generator can run your cooling and freezing devices and keep you comfortable indoors. It uses solar energy to power the devices and is noise—and toxin-free.