Too Hot to Ignore: Protecting Our Health During Extreme Summer Heat

Jul 19

5 min read

By The Aafiyah Project

Summer often brings more time outdoors, family gatherings, community events, travel, cookouts, and long days in the sun. But as temperatures climb, summer heat can become more than uncomfortable. It can become a serious health risk.

Here in Prince George's County, extreme heat and high humidity are a familiar part of summer. This July, the County issued extreme heat advisories on July 2, ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, and again on July 15, urging residents to take precautions as dangerous temperatures and humidity moved through our area (Prince George's County Government, 2026a, 2026b).

The danger has been real. Across Maryland, 19 people died from heat-related causes in the first half of this summer, eight of them during the Fourth of July heat wave alone. Nearly three in four of those deaths were among adults 65 and older (Nachman, 2026).

Understanding the risks, and knowing what to do before someone becomes ill, is an important part of protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Extreme Heat Is a Public Health Issue

Our bodies normally cool themselves by sweating and releasing heat through the skin. During extreme heat, those systems can become overwhelmed. Body temperature can rise, leading to heat-related illnesses that range from heat cramps and heat exhaustion to life-threatening heat stroke (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH], 2026).

Heat can also make existing health conditions worse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that people living with heart disease and other chronic conditions may be less likely to sense and respond to rising temperatures, and some may take medications that make the effects of heat worse (CDC, 2024a).

The risk is not the same for everyone. Older adults, infants and young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, people who work or exercise outdoors, and people without air conditioning are at greater risk for heat-related illness (CDC, 2024b; Prince George's County Government, 2026b).

That makes extreme heat more than an individual concern. It is a community health concern.

When Staying Cool Is Not Equally Easy

Advice such as "stay indoors" or "turn on the air conditioning" may sound simple. But not every household has the same ability to follow it.

Some families may not have reliable air conditioning. Others may limit its use because of the cost of electricity. Outdoor workers may have little control over when they are exposed to heat. People experiencing housing instability may have few options for cool indoor spaces. And some neighborhoods simply become hotter than others.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that heat waves disproportionately affect communities that have been marginalized, including communities of color and lower-income households, in part because of discriminatory development practices such as redlining. These practices have left some neighborhoods with fewer trees, less green space, and less access to cooling resources (EPA, 2026).

This is where health equity matters.

Protecting people from extreme heat is not only about telling individuals to drink more water. It also means making sure people know where cooling resources are, checking on those who may need assistance, supporting safer conditions for outdoor workers, and recognizing when someone may not have what they need to stay cool.

Know the Signs

Heat-related illness can progress quickly, so recognizing the warning signs matters.

Heat exhaustion may include:

Heavy sweating
Weakness or fatigue
Dizziness or fainting
Headache
Nausea
Muscle cramps

Someone with these symptoms should move to a cooler place, rest, loosen clothing, and sip water. Seek medical help if symptoms get worse or do not improve within an hour (Maryland Department of Health, 2022).

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Warning signs can include a body temperature of 103°F or higher, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, or hot, red skin. Call 911 immediately if heat stroke is suspected, and begin cooling the person while you wait for help (Maryland Department of Health, 2022; Prince George's County Government, 2026a).

When in doubt, take heat-related symptoms seriously.

Simple Steps Can Make a Difference

Most heat-related illness is preventable. During very hot weather:

Stay hydrated. Drink water regularly rather than waiting until you feel thirsty, especially if you are spending time outside.

Plan around the heat. When possible, move strenuous outdoor activities to cooler parts of the day and take frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.

Dress for the weather. Lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, sunscreen, and a hat can help when you need to be outdoors.

Find a cool space. Air-conditioned public spaces and designated cooling centers can provide relief when your home is too warm.

Never leave anyone in a parked vehicle. Children, older adults, and pets should never be left unattended in a vehicle during warm weather, even for a few minutes.

Pay attention to medications and health conditions. Some medications affect hydration or the body's response to heat. Do not stop or change a medication on your own; talk with your healthcare provider about precautions that are right for you.

Check the forecast and heat advisories. Knowing when dangerous conditions are coming allows you to plan activities and make arrangements before temperatures rise.

Check on Someone

There is another heat-safety strategy that costs nothing.

Check on one another.

Call the older adult who lives alone. Ask whether a neighbor's air conditioning is working. Make sure children playing outside are taking water and shade breaks. Ask the person working outdoors whether they have had a chance to cool down. Share information about cooling centers with someone who may need it.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that Jibreel kept urging him to care for the neighbor so often that he thought the neighbor would be made an heir (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6014). Checking on the people around us during a heat wave is one simple, meaningful way to live that out.

During periods of extreme heat, Prince George's County may open cooling centers where residents can escape dangerous temperatures, and the County's online map shows their locations. Older adults and their families can also call the County's Department of Family Services, Aging Services, at 301-265-8450 for information and assistance (Prince George's County Government, n.d.). Knowing these resources matters. Sharing them with someone else can matter just as much.

Community wellness is built not only through the choices we make for ourselves, but also through the ways we look out for one another.

Wellness Is Something We Practice Together

At The Aafiyah Project, we approach health through multiple dimensions (Social • Emotional • Spiritual • Physical • Financial) because the conditions affecting our health rarely fit neatly into one category.

Extreme heat is a good example.

It affects us physically, but our ability to respond may also depend on our finances, our housing and neighborhoods, our social connections, and whether someone notices when we need help.

Prevention begins with awareness. It becomes more powerful when awareness leads to action.

So as temperatures rise, drink your water. Find shade. Pay attention to your body. Know the signs of heat-related illness.

And remember to check on someone else, because protecting our health is not only an individual responsibility. It is something we do together.