Oldster check-in

It’s official, we’ve cracked an all-time record for Seattle: 103°F was recorded at SeaTac today, breaking the previous record of 100° (recorded in 1941 and 1994). Wallyhood readers have provided a number of tips for beating the heat, including this one from Kris (e-mailed, rather than left as a comment):

Living in Phoenix for years, I learned a great trick.  Tape tin foil on the outside of your window(s) with the reflective side out.  Yes, the house will be a little dark, but your house will be MUCH cooler! If you can’t do the outside, do the inside. A dark-ish house on the inside or sleep? I choose sleep.

Now that you’ve got yourselves taken care of, it’s time to think about your neighbors. Do you have an elderly or house-bound neighbor? Imagine you were as hot as you are now, but unable to get yourself outside or take some of the steps you’re taking because you were infirm. Seriously, it could be life threatening.

So hike yourself over to your neighbors’ place and check-in. Remember, between pride and not wanting to put someone out, it’s hard for many people to say yes to help, so make it easy. Don’t just ask if they’re OK, offer to take them somewhere cool, rig a swamp cooler or get them something to drink.

And if you can, make conversation long enough to check for signs of heat stroke / exhaustion (e.g., nausea, confusion, red, hot and dry skin). Heck, if you can, make conversation long enough to learn something about a neighbor you didn’t know. Sit a spell.