Staying Cool When The Weather Is Hot

Summer is traditionally known as a time to kick back and relax but due to the long period of heat and humidity in the northeast, air conditioning repair personnel, emergency room attendants and utility workers are moving at a faster clip. 

"As the heat wave continues, heat will build up as the thermal energy has been soaked up by all our surroundings and doesn't dissipate as quickly," said Len Mediavilla, an energy manager at Groton Utilities. "People are generally worn out and running the AC at higher temperatures – they're struggling to maintain some comfort." 

"The two obvious things is you can keep the (AC) temperature as high as you can tolerate it," said Frank Winkler, a spokesperson for Groton Utilities, of keeping the house cool. "Keep those blinds and shades drawn so you have less heat penetration into your house." 

Mediavilla said customers can maximize the cooling effects of air conditioning by using a small circular fan in conjunction with the AC to create more air movement and wick off moisture from the skin. 

Though this summer's demand for power is nowhere near record levels, according to Mediavilla, so far this year July 11 saw the highest demand for electricity, "but that may all change in the next couple days."  

The heat wave that has reportedly caused 13 fatalities in the Midwest, according to the National Weather Service, is moving east and the next couple of days of predicted elevated heat indices may also bring more patients to emergency rooms.

Heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, have a cumulative effect, according to Dr. Oliver Mayorga, the chairperson of Emergency Services at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. 

"In retrospect, when you look at people who got really sick, they didn't feel that sick along the way," Mayorga said of patients with heat exhaustion and stroke. 

Mayorga said people experience symptoms of heat exhaustion such as nausea, fatigue and a "general feeling of being unwell," with heat exhaustion.  

"You muscle through it and you're fine," he said, "but you had a heat related illness. The next day, it may not be as hot but your much, much more likely to have a heat stroke." 

Mayorga said, "limiting the time you're outside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the biggest thing you can do," and for those who work outside, or otherwise have to be outside, "stay hydrated and stop frequently in your activities and give your body a chance to cool down naturally." 

Mayorga, who was a doctor for the U.S. military in Iraq, said that symptoms of heat exhaustion would keep a soldier out of service for a week, in order to prevent a more serious condition called heat stroke which, he said, can cause irreversible liver damage, brain damage, and can be fatal. 

Mayorga said people who wait until they stop sweating before taking a break have waited too long, "you're pretty darn sick at that point."

"Better safe than sorry," he said, "hydrate constantly and take frequent breaks."

Skip Kneeland, of SLS Heating in New London, said he has been busy this month repairing residential units. Kneeland has these tips to improve the efficiency of your air conditioning unit:  

• Make sure the condenser, the part that is outside, is clean and free from tree branches and shrubbery. Use the garden hose to clean off the spider webs and leaves.
• Change the air filer as often as necessary. Kneeland said that the filters in households with animals tend to get dirty faster. Kneeland said, "check it monthly anyway, you'll see the dust on it, you can tell right away if it's dirty or not."
• General maintenance also plays a big role in AC efficiency. Kneeland said, "the older units have to be oiled periodically and the belts should be tight.