How to Make a Heat Safety Plan for Older Adults

Plan where you will cool off

When a heat alert appears in the forecast, decide where you will spend the hottest part of the day. That might be a room with working air conditioning at home, a library or a community cooling center. Pick a backup while you still have time to check its hours and arrange a ride.

The CDC says adults aged 65 and older are more likely to develop heat-related health problems. The body may adjust less readily to a sudden rise in temperature, and some health conditions and medicines affect how the body handles heat. A plan can make it easier to act before the house becomes uncomfortable.

Write down the address and phone number of your cooling location, how you would get there and who can check in on you. Put the plan somewhere easy to reach, such as near your keys, and share it with anyone you expect to help.

For a related guide, read A Home Fall-Prevention Walkthrough: Where to Start Room by Room.

Make sure your cooling option will be open

Check your local forecast for a heat advisory and look up local cooling sites through your health department or emergency management office. A library can work during opening hours. A designated cooling center may have different hours when a heat alert is in effect. Call ahead if you need an accessible entrance or if you plan to bring a pet.

Make the ride part of the plan. If you rely on a neighbor, bus or rideshare, check how long you might have to wait outdoors and where you can wait in the shade. If the electricity or air conditioning fails, go to your backup location early. CDC advises against depending on a fan as your main source of cooling when it is very hot.

Plan for fluids, food and errands

Keep water where you can reach it easily throughout the day. CDC recommends drinking regularly instead of waiting for thirst. If a clinician limits your fluids or you take water pills, ask how to handle hot days before changing how much you drink. Keep taking your medicines as directed unless your clinician tells you otherwise.

Move outdoor errands or exercise to a cooler part of the day when possible. The National Weather Service advises reducing strenuous activity in extreme heat. If the kitchen gets hot quickly, plan a meal that needs little cooking and save oven use for later. Pack water and any essentials before leaving for a cooling site.

Agree on a check-in plan

Choose a time for a friend, relative or neighbor to call. Give them your backup location and agree in advance on what they should do if you miss the call. If you are checking on someone else, ask how warm the room feels, whether the air conditioning is working and whether they need a ride. A quick conversation can reveal a problem you would miss in a text exchange.

If you use a phone for heat alerts, charge it before the hottest part of the day. Keep contact numbers on paper if the phone is your only record. Revisit the plan when a bus route changes, the usual library closes or the person who normally checks in goes away.

For a related guide, read How to Choose a Health Care Proxy.

Act quickly if someone seems confused or passes out

Confusion or loss of consciousness during heat exposure can signal heat stroke. The CDC advises calling 911 right away if you suspect it. Move the person to a cooler place if you can do so safely, and start cooling them with wet cloths while help is on the way. Do not give them anything to drink.

Once the heat passes, note which parts of the plan worked. Check whether your backup stayed open, the ride was available and the check-in happened on time. Update those details while they are fresh so you know what to do when the next alert comes.