In North Carolina, summers are always hot and humid. With our changing climate, these summers are getting hotter and longer. Each year, we set new records for extreme temperatures. While climate change is an overarching threat to our entire planet, high heat is an immediate threat to many in our communities, especially the most underserved populations.
This is why United Methodist Churches in North Carolina need to understand high heat as a disaster, and need to respond accordingly.
High heat is commonly thought of as a danger to the very young and the elderly, primarily in urban areas. However, data provided by the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University points out that rural areas and small towns have the highest rates of heat-caused health issues. The threat posed by high heat is equal across all demographics and all locations, and males between the ages of 17 and 35 are the most likely to suffer from direct heat caused illness.
In addition to direct heat caused illness, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, exposure to high heat increases risks in seemingly unrelated areas. The strain of trying to stay cool increases stress on the body, increasing the likelihood of cardiac events such as heart attacks or strokes. Some common medicines used to treat problems like high blood pressure or depression, and more, negatively affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature. Exposure to high heat increases the risks of birth complications and defects in pregnant women. Mental health is adversely affected by high heat, and instances of domestic abuse increase with the temperatures.
But The UMC can help. Even in communities without many resources like county health facilities or public libraries, there are United Methodist Churches. All it takes to help save lives is an open door and an air conditioner.
Interested in Becoming a Cooling Location?
Complete an interest form and we will work with you to get you started.
What is a cooling location?
The easiest way to fight heat is to spend time inside a climate controlled building with a temperature of 79℉ or cooler. This gives the body the chance to regulate its temperature back to safe levels. At its simplest, a cooling location is a place where people can do this.
Cooling locations can offer more than just a place to sit in the air conditioning. Providing cold water to drink, wet washcloths and towels, tubs for soaking feet, internet access, entertainment for children, and more are great ways to help people beat the heat and potentially save lives.
A note on nomenclature: Some organizations have very distinct definitions around types of cooling locations. Generally speaking, they are differentiated between cooling locations, cooling stations, and cooling centers, with the level of help available at each location increasing in the order that was just listed. Currently, the state of North Carolina does not make such distinctions, but know that expectations might be set simply by how you choose to name your disaster response ministry.
Guidelines for Cooling Locations
When should a cooling location be open?
The easy answer to when cooling locations should be open is to follow advisories given by the National Weather Service, with specific open hours to match the hottest time of day (mid-afternoon to early evening). However, historically heat advisories are not issued if temperatures are below 95℉ and have not taken heat index into account. Recent studies have shown that most direct heat caused illness happens between 90℉ and 94℉, most likely because no heat advisory is issued at those temperatures even though they are still high.
Each church knows its own community, resources, and abilities. It is advised that each church decide for itself the minimum requirements needed to open a cooling station based on the weather forecast and the church’s own ability to staff and maintain a facility. Heat index should be a primary factor in determining when to open, as it is very common for North Carolina to have a heat index above 100℉ while real temperatures are below 95℉. Churches should also note how many days in a row high heat is expected, as well as nighttime temperatures. (Note: Nights where the temperature remains about 75℉ are also considered high heat and pose a threat to human health. These nights are occuring in greater frequency.)
Minimum
- Air-conditioned room(s) with a temperature of 79℉ or cooler
- Ample seating
- Accessible restrooms
- Access to 911 or other emergency services
- Two (or more) hosts on-site; please adhere to the Safe Sanctuaries policy when assigning hosting duties
- Information readily available to all on heat safety and health, with specific information or recognizing the signs of heat-caused illness (please feel free to print and distribute these resources provided by Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University; if you would like these printed by the Conference and shipped to your church, please contact Rev. Jarrod Davis)
- Public notification/advertisement of services
Strongly Recommended
- Cold water to be distributed free of charge
- Basic first aid supplies
- Wet washcloths or towels for draping on necks, heads, etc.
- Refrigerators for storing clients’ medicines that need to be kept cool
- Internet access
- Access to power outlets for charging clients’ devices
- Entertainment for children, such as coloring books, blocks, movies, etc.
- Snacks that help rehydrate the body, such as fresh fruit
Suggested
- Hosts trained in first aid/first response
- Electrolyte drinks/drink mixes
- An area for well-behaved pets
- Entertainment
- Transportation
- Back-up generators
- Trash/recycling cans
- Fans to increase ventilation
- Distributable goods, such as handheld fans or neck cooling wraps
Hospitality has always been a hallmark of the church of Jesus Christ. When planning your cooling location, consider what you can do that is above and beyond meeting the minimum requirements of letting people cool off. How can you make them feel comfortable and welcome? Remember, the more comfortable they are, the longer they will stay and the more likely they are to return (and invite others to do so). Hospitality can save lives.