Minneapolis City officials want to remind everyone to stay safe in extreme heat. Heat-related illness happens when the body can’t cool itself. Older adults, small children, people with underlying medical conditions and pets are the most vulnerable to heat-related illness. However, everyone should take steps to stay safe in extreme heat.

The Minneapolis Health Department works closely with other local organizations and the Minnesota Department of Health to help folks prepare for extreme heat events. Minneapolis has an emergency plan that is used to respond when extreme heat is in the forecast. The plan is coordinated with a metro-wide notification plan that reaches out to agencies that serve vulnerable populations.

Tips for preventing heat-related illness during extreme heat:

• Drink more fluids. Drinking fluids helps the body cool itself. People shouldn’t wait until they’re thirsty to drink. They should avoid drinking liquids with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar. Those can actually cause bodies to lose more fluid. People should remind anyone they are responsible for to drink more water.
• Never leave any person or animals in a parked vehicle. The temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise, even if the windows are cracked.
• Wear light colored, lightweight, loose-fitted clothing. Light-colored clothing reflects heat, and clothing that fits loosely keeps bodies cooler by allowing air to pass over.
• Check on neighbors who may be at risk. Visiting seniors and other vulnerable neighbors at least twice a day and looking closely for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke can help protect them. They should seek medical advice immediately if they notice nausea, weakness, disorientation, rapid pulse and dry skin.
• Take an air conditioning break. Air conditioning is the best defense against heat-related illness. If people live somewhere without air conditioning, they can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned or by using air conditioning in vehicles.

For a map of public, air-conditioned buildings for those who don’t have air conditioning in their homes, visit the Hennepin County website.

• Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest. Even young and healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in physical activities during hot weather. If people must be outside, they should try to limit their activity to morning and evening hours, pace their activity and take frequent breaks in the shade, drink plenty of fluids, and protect themselves from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen.
  • Outdoor workers can find more information on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website.
  • Athletes and others who are active outside can find more information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
• Don’t rely on an electric fan. Electric fans may seem to provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Using wet cloths, showers or baths, or a spray of mist on exposed skin will help cool the body temperature.

Protect your pets

The temperature inside a car can change drastically in a matter of minutes. Animals left in vehicles can suffer from heatstroke and permanent organ and brain damage. Minneapolis Animal Care & Control urges pet owners to take special precautions to protect their animals when the heat index is so high. Here are a few tips to keep pets safe and alive:

• Limit the amount of time your pets are allowed to be outside in the extreme heat. Pets should not be tethered outside without any water.
• Pets should be kept indoors and always have access to water. Your vehicle is never a safe place for your pet.  
• If the pet is outside, they should be supervised at all times.
• If you do take your dog for a walk, limit it to a short walk, and keep water with you and offer it frequently.
• High humidity amplifies the negative impact of high temperatures to your pet.
• Monitor your pets in the heat.
• If you have a dog that requires grooming, keep them groomed in the summertime.

Anyone who sees an animal outside or in a car showing signs of heat stress can contact Animals & Pets immediately – in Minneapolis, by calling 311 (612-673-3000). If they believe the situation to be life-threatening, they can call 911.

For more information on heat-related illness and how to prevent it, visit Emergency Preparedness.