Prepare Early, Before Extreme Heat Arrives

1. Make sure your air conditioner is working properly. Spring and early summer are good times to have air conditioners tested & serviced.
2. If you don't have an air conditioner, get one installed before the heat comes. Remember that electric fans alone will not sufficiently cool the body when temperatures are in the high 90s to 100 degrees or more.
3. Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
4. Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
5. Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
6. Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades or awnings (Outdoor awnings can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent).
7. Identify air conditioned places (friends, neighbors or public buildings) where you would go if your home experienced a power outage or air conditioner did not work during a heat wave.

During a heat wave, don't let concern over the potential for a high electric bill keep you from turning on needed air conditioning.

If you live on a low income and need assistance paying a high electric bill during a heat wave, contact the El Dorado County Department of Human Services (DHS) to see if you qualify.

Programs are also available through DHS to make your home more energy efficient and to repair or replace air conditioners or evaporative coolers.

For more information on these programs call DHS at (530) 621-6150.

Know What Terms Mean

• Heat Wave: Prolonged period of excessive heat and humidity. The National Weather Service steps up its procedures to alert the public during these periods of excessive heat and humidity.
• Heat Index: A number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it really feels when relative humidity is added to the actual air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees F.
• Heat Cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are an early signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.
• Heat Exhaustion
• Heat Stroke
• Sunstroke: Another term for heat stroke.

Protect Yourself During Extreme Hot Weather.