The best summers are filled with fun, friends, and family, but summer also brings dangerous heat waves. In some cases, heat waves are frustrating and uncomfortable, in other cases they can be deadly. Today we’re sharing tips to help you cope with the heat and keep yourself and loved ones safe.

Keeping your home cool during a heat wave

• Clean the filters in your air conditioner and fans to improve efficiency.
• Check your home to see if there are places where you could improve the insulation. Make sure doors and windows are well sealed.
• Install ceiling fans and run them counterclockwise to draw cool air up.
• Plant shade trees and other plants to keep your home cooler long-term.
• Avoid running appliances that produce heat like your oven, clothes dryer, and dishwasher—especially during the hottest part of the day.
• Keep your windows and doors closed as much as possible during the day and keep the shades or blinds closed.
• Open your windows at night if the temperature drops to get fresh air and cool your home without electricity.
• Invest in a power station for emergency outages. Whether the grid goes down because of a scheduled outage or a summer storm, backup power can help keep fans running, lights on, and food safe. At Goal Zero, we’re fans of pairing our power stations with solar panels to create a solar generator. You get renewable energy that is safe to use indoors (unlike a gas generator).

Backup power during a heat wave

Backup power can help you stay safe in most emergencies, including a heat wave. Here are some of our favorite backup power solutions:

Taking care of yourself and others during a heat wave

• Prioritize staying hydrated. Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. Encourage children and pets to drink extra water as well.
• Stay inside during the hottest part of the day and avoid strenuous activity when it is hot. If possible, schedule your workout and yard work early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperatures drop.
• Wear loose fitting, light clothing.
• Keep an eye on higher risk family members who are at higher risk for heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Younger children and older adults are usually the most vulnerable.

Have fun this summer and stay safe in the heat. Check out our power stations and solar generators for backup power so you can enjoy your summer worry free.