Quick summary: This edition features an essay delving into the current heatwave gripping the US and parts of the Global South, spotlighting communities most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, injuries and deaths this year. We also provide practical tips for staying safe in extreme heat, featuring reporting from URL Media partners Epicenter-NYC, Prism, Scroll, TANTV Studios, Documented and India Currents.
A farmworker takes a water break at Pacific Tomato Growers, a company under Sunripe Certified Brands, on Nov. 22, 2023, in Immokalee, Florida. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui for The Washington Post via Getty Images and Prism)
Is your body ready for the heatwave?
Hey fam Did you hear the news? We’re in the midst of a heatwave. If you haven’t noticed yet, you’re probably lucky enough to be in a place with a robust HVAC system or running the AC nonstop (and honestly, I don’t blame you). I wish I’d been more aware of the heatwave last Wednesday when I endured an ambitious 12-hour outing in the sun with only an Adidas cap, a spare change of clothes and a stingy eight-ounce water pouch. How foolish.
The next morning, I woke up to a heat rash on my face and tiny, itchy bumps all over my forehead, cheeks and chin. It turns out the sun had waged war on my face, and to make matters worse it ruined my Friday night plans to paint and sip wine with friends. While my experience was unpleasant, many others have faced far more severe consequences from the heatwave sweeping our nation and parts of the Global South, including places like India and Kashmir, which have seen record-breaking temperatures year after year, reports URL Media partner Scroll.Plus: A Sierra Leonean couple from Maryland dies from extreme heat during Hajj pilgrimage (TANTV Studios) In the U.S., thousands of people have lost their lives in heat-related deaths due to preexisting health conditions, with many of these incidents occurring indoors, according to an analysis of National Weather Service data. With temperatures in parts of the West Coast soaring beyond triple digits, the communities most vulnerable to heat-related deaths and injuries are seniors, young children, and incarcerated and unhoused individuals who don’t live, work or have easy access to air-conditioned environments and cooling centers.
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