FIELD GUIDE 06 / EXTREME HEAT
Know where to cool down before you need to.
Cooling access, household check-ins and the warning signs that should never wait for power to return.
01 / PREPARE
Before the event.
Identify a cooled destination
Find an air-conditioned place you can reach, such as an announced cooling centre or an accessible public building. Check that it is open, has power and can meet your household needs. Arrange transport and a backup destination. [1] [3]
Arrange real check-ins
Agree who will check on older adults, people living alone and anyone with health or mobility needs. Health Canada notes that a visit can reveal signs that may be missed by phone. Keep transport fueled or charged. [3]
Ask about individual health needs early
If a clinician has restricted fluid intake, ask how to manage heat rather than simply drinking more. Discuss medicine storage and heat-related concerns with a pharmacist or care provider before the hot period. [1]
02 / RESPOND
During the event.
Reduce heat exposure and workload
Move strenuous activities to a cooler time or cancel them. Wear light, loose clothing, drink water regularly unless advised otherwise, and use a cool shower or wet cloths. Spend time in a genuinely cooler location. [1]
Act before the home becomes intolerable
If cooling fails, use the transport and destination you arranged. Do not rely on a fan alone in very hot conditions. Never leave a child, a dependent person or a pet in a parked vehicle, even briefly. [1] [3]
03 / RECOVER
After the immediate threat.
Keep checking after power returns
Confirm that the cooling equipment is actually working and that rooms are cooling before returning a vulnerable person. Continue local heat alerts and check-ins; restored electricity does not instantly remove accumulated heat. [1] [3]
Check food instead of guessing
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during an outage. Use a thermometer and the official food-safety chart after the interruption. Never taste food to decide whether it is safe. [4]
DETAILS WORTH KNOWING
A few assumptions to check.
Heat stroke does not require dry skin
NWS lists hot skin that may be dry or damp among heat-stroke signs. Sweating does not rule it out. Confusion or loss of consciousness during heat calls for emergency help, not a wait-and-see approach. [2]
A fan is not proof that a room is safe
A fan moves air but does not provide the same cooling as air conditioning. NWS cautions about fan use in very hot rooms. Prioritize an accessible cooled place rather than using a running fan as your safety test. [1]
HOUSEHOLD POWER
Where backup power fits.
Air conditioning can require far more power than phones or lights, and compressors may need extra starting power. Check the exact equipment and backup system together. Illustrative energy example: a constant 800 W load needs 3,200 Wh for four hours before losses. Do not treat a small power bank as a cooling plan.
Try this before you need it
Confirm your cooled destination by phone while everything is working. Record opening hours, accessibility, pet arrangements and the transport contact. Decide who checks it again during an outage.
Local context: Canada
Health Canada and local public-health units provide heat advice. Cooling-centre hours and accessibility are local details that must be checked when needed. Elsewhere, use your own health authority and emergency number.
04 / MAKE IT YOURS
Your household action card.
Print the PDF and complete the last page. Keep it with your kit. The checkboxes below are temporary reading aids; they do not save information.
FOLLOW THE SOURCES
Official guidance.
The numbered references beside each action link here. Read the original guidance for fuller context and follow current instructions at your location.
- NOAA / NWS — During a heat wave ↗
- NOAA / NWS — Heat illness: warning signs and first aid ↗
- Health Canada — Protect yourself from extreme heat ↗
- FoodSafety.gov — Food safety during a power outage ↗
Original summaries and household planning prompts by StillPower Guide, operated by Mihai Florea. Sources checked October 24, 2026. No agency endorsement. This page is educational preparation, not a live alert service. In immediate danger call your local emergency number (911 in the U.S. and Canada).
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