The main climate news reports that from 2014 to 2023, the United States faced 60 % more power outages than between 2000 to 2009 during the summer season. This may be due to the increasing use of electricity for air conditioners, forest fires, severe weather and falling power lines.
It is especially important to be prepared for blackout summer because, according to the US Energy Information Administration, the average blackout is more than 5 hours. This means that more than 5 hours without air conditioning, which can lead to heat -related health complications. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep yourself and others physically And Mentally cool when the summer is blackout.
1. Emergency kit prepare
An emergency cut is easy to make and it does not cost much money. Even you can buy one in Big Box retailers. These include band AIDS, goose, ointment, butterfly stripes and more. If you or your home takes any other medicine, you would also like to provide additional supplies in the kit.
In the upper part, you would like to prepare for a long summer blackout. Keep at least one gallon of drinking water available for at least a few days. Also, consider buying the insulated cooler and storing the ice pack in the freezer. It can help to cool any medicine needs low temperatures and can prevent you from heat.
You also want access to defective foods. Keep the supply of canned goods, dry grains, nuts, snacks and other shelf stable items that do not require cooking.
2. Wrap your utility company
Make your utility company number available to report the closure. Although they can already know about your situation, informing them gives them a better idea of the closure scope. In some instances, they can provide an estimate when your power will return. This is the necessary information, because if you do, it can help you prepare you for a long time.
3. Check relatives, friends and neighbors
If the blackout is wide in the summer, which affects loved ones or friends, contact them and see if they are okay or not. Closures can be especially affected by medical conditions, children and the elderly adults. Therefore, make sure they have a place to go with air conditioning and enough water is important.
If the whole neighborhood is out of power, check out news about your local Red Cross or nearby areas such as libraries or schools that have electricity and they are open to the public. These shelters ensure that people with medical conditions can cool comfortably somewhere until the electricity is returned.
4. Store on long closure lod food food
For those living in more bad weather areas, it is ideal to prepare for long -term closures. With these points following these points, you would like to inspect your fridge or freezer to toss food that you cannot store properly without electricity before its decision. If you can afford it, consider buying an ice chest to store frozen and refrigerated goods. And if you have a grill, you have a source of cooking whose meat and vegetables are used before the expiry. If you can’t afford the ice chest, keep meat, fruits and vegetables in coolers.
In addition, if you live in areas where long -term closures are often, like Houston, you should consider the home generator. Although they are expensive, but when your home is out of power, they can provide a very important sanctity and will be out for a long time.
5. There are other sources of light
Store flashlight in every room in your house. That way, when the lightning goes out, you will have light in every room. If you don’t want to mess with batteries, consider moving options. However, if you choose battery -powered flashlights, keep a fresh supply of batteries on the hand.
Alternatively, you can also use candles as light sources. Check the stock match sticks or your lighter to ensure that it works and does not need a light fluid. Before illuminating the candle, wander around your room and check the gas leak (if applicable).
6. Blackout Install Curtains
Blackout curtains get several goals. They prevent the light from entering your room by stopping the UV rays and exterior light from other sources. They serve as another layer of blinds with blinds, where space lets the light shine.
Since blackout curtains also reflect the heat, they will keep this area of your home cool during the summer blackout. If you have a medical condition or heat sensitivity, you would like to keep them in the blackout curtain room during the power outage.
7. Wear cool clothes
When the electricity goes out, it will not be too late for your home to warm. One way to deal with heat is to wear cooling clothes, which eliminate heat and promote air flow, which helps you stay comfortable in a traumatic situation.
Generally, cooling clothes have three features:
- Breathing materials: By allowing more air flow, this material prevents sweating from sticking to your skin, so you will cool down quickly. You should refrain from wearing wool or polyester clothes because they will make you sweat.
- Humidity Wiking Abilities: When your body gets hot, sweat to cool it. However, if you are wearing non -cold clothing, you will suffer because the fabric will not remove the moisture from your skin. Cooling clothing gets it by using hydrophobic fibers to repel your clothing and skin, which allows your body to cool down without any feeling.
- Temperature rule: You would like to wear clothes that make sweat quickly, contain high thermal contacts and have thermal convention. When you apply cold material, your body feels cool as the heat is cooled by the hottest parts of your clothing.
8. Keep the charged devices with portable chargers
Having a cell service is equivalent to physical function for most of us. However, when the lights are out and you do not have access to power, then anxiety can be encouraged. Nevertheless, you don’t want you to have a dead phone battery to prevent you from contacting friends and loved ones, and if you need them, emergency personnel.
That’s why you would like to prepare a backup charging solution. Power Bank is a wise choice if you continue to charge them before the closure. That way you can plug and connect to your smartphone.
You can also buy a battery -driven or hand crank phone charger. With any option, you do not have to worry about their plugin and strength before any closure. Must keep fresh batteries in hand for battery -powered options.
9. Recognize the symbols of the heat stroke
During the hot months, and especially when the blackout extracts your A/C in the summer, it is very important to know the symptoms of heat stroke. If you see if someone starts to feel unpleasant or appears to be flushed, you would like to relax somewhere, apply cold packs or towels on their skin and call 9-1-1. You do not want to give them water to drink, because they may be confused and are unable to swallow safely.
According to US centers for the control and prevention of diseases, these are other symptoms of heat stroke.
- The faded speech
- The loss of consciousness (coma)
- Hot, dry skin or profitable sweat
- Tours
- Too much temperature of the body
Also, if you are old neighbors or those who are disabled with movement, check them out regularly. Doing so can help you identify the symptoms of heat stroke and solve the situation even more dangerous.
