Stay Safe And Beat The Heat In NJ This Summer

NEW JERSEY - The State of New Jersey is trying to help you beat the heat with its first-ever “Extreme Heat Awareness Week” to educate residents with information and tools to stay healthy.

Starting June 2, and running through June 8, state social media accounts and websites will share posts, short documentaries and toolkits that aid government agencies and municipalities in helping their communities familiarize themselves with best practices to stay cool.

The National Weather Service categorizes extreme heat as periods of three or more consecutive days with temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Dehydration, heat stroke and heat exhaustion are just a few of the serious effects that can be felt from the conditions, along with the added impact on already existing heart and lung issues.

According to Climatecontrol.org, New Jersey is warming faster than the global average, with 2024 finishing as the second warmest year on record. Since 2000, there have been 15 of the 20 hottest years ever recorded.

The state says unprecedented warming with more frequent, longer-lasting heat waves are believed to impact New Jersey by 2050.

Governor Phil Murphy is highlighting the need to act now, adding “My Administration is committed to implementing long-term solutions that address the threat of extreme heat to New Jerseyans. That starts with educating the public and the next generation about the growing effects of climate change on our daily lives and the need to stay safe and healthy, especially for our vulnerable populations.”

(Graphic: NJ Department of Environmental Protection)

Here Are A Few Steps That Can Keep You Well Protected (Credit: NJ Department of Environmental Protection)

• “Know the signs of heat-related illnesses: Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, can turn deadly quickly. If you, a co-worker or someone you know feels dizzy, thirsty, weak, nauseous, and/or experiences extreme fatigue or excessive sweating, get out of the heat and hydrate immediately. If symptoms worsen, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room. If not treated, heat stroke can quickly damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles, with damage worsening the longer treatment is delayed.

• Stay hydrated: When working or being active in the heat, drink about one quart of water per hour, or one cup every 15 minutes. Drink more water than usual and drink before you get thirsty. Avoid alcohol and food or liquids that contain high amounts of sugar and/or caffeine. It is also important to eat regular meals to replace salt lost from sweating.

• Know your risk: While anyone can suffer from a heat-related illness, populations that are more vulnerable to extreme heat and susceptible to heat-related illnesses include those who are 65or older, people who work outside, infants and children, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those without air conditioning, people with chronic health conditions, people who live alone, and those who are experiencing homelessness.

• Find a cool place near you: As summer temperatures rise, New Jersey residents, particularly those without access to air conditioning at home or work, should seek out places to beat the heat. During a heat wave, visit NJ 211’s Cooling Centers webpage to find officially designated cooling centers near you. Use Chill Out NJ to search for free- or low-cost options to keep cool, such as libraries and senior centers, parks, pools, spray parks and splashpads. Also consider museums and shopping malls or even going to the movies.

• Beware of hot vehicles: Never leave children, people with disabilities, elderly people, or pets in a parked car, even for a short time. Even on an 80-degree Fahrenheit day, the temperature inside a car can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit in less than 10 minutes.

Mitigating the Impacts of Extreme Heat

• Plant trees and shrubs: Trees, bushes, and shrubs have a natural cooling effect, making them an effective way to reduce heat, particularly in urban settings. They lower surface and air temperatures by providing shade and through evapotranspiration, the process by which they absorb water through their roots and evaporate it through their leaves. They also reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, while helping to manage stormwater runoff and protect water quality.

• Protect your community: Form or participate in neighbor-to-neighbor outreach and mutual aid initiatives to check on and support those in your community most vulnerable to excessive heat impacts. These efforts can include:
  • Making phone calls or door-to-door “wellness checks” to ensure that individuals vulnerable to extreme heat have functioning air conditioners and are running it, or have a cool place to go, are properly hydrating, and have their needed medications.
  • Providing transportation to cooling centers or other cool places.
  • Strategically locating “hydration stations” that provide free water during heat waves.
  • Spreading the word about when and where local or county emergency management offices open cooling centers during heat emergencies.

• Participate in local climate resilience planning: While climate change is a global challenge, the impacts are experienced locally. Join public sessions led by local and regional government officials making decisions about zoning, redevelopment, housing, open space, and other investment decisions to ensure that community investments made today are designed to withstand the conditions of tomorrow.

• Developed in tandem with the Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan, Heat Hub NJ is a valuable tool that provides the public with information on extreme heat’s impact on daily life and the environment, its adverse effects on human health and well-being, and ways to protect those particularly vulnerable to its effects.

• Heat Hub NJ also has focused tabs on identifying and dealing with extreme heat emergencies and locating cooling assistance resources. Chill Out NJ, available through Heat Hub NJ, is an interactive mapping feature that helps the public find public places to escape the heat, such as libraries and senior centers, parks, and splash pads.”

New Jersey is also one of only three states to have developed an Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan. The plan encourages ways state agency members of the New Jersey Interagency Council on Climate Resilience can mitigate the effects of extreme heat.