As we are approaching the official beginning of summer, yet being in meteorological summer by local standards in my neck of the woods, the sun and heat have proved themselves quite well throughout this month. Little did I know that the autistic and related populations are more at risk than the general populations when it comes to balancing safety and risk.

I had always managed the heat to the best of my ability, but cannot totally tolerate it completely . It is more than likely advisable that because my medication regimen includes anti-psychotics, another factor in making myself alongside being autistic that makes me prone to intense heat sensitivity. 

Thankfully, I have started the year off with a new window air conditioner for my apartment. My old one that I have had continuously for my nearly 5 years of being independent has definitely got a run for its money and after some negligence on my part,simply became inoperable in my home setting. Therefore, I had to buy a new one that seems to be more efficient. As in anything you purchase new, it is important to read the instruction manual properly so that it operates efficiently. Through this, I had learned that it requires filter cleaning twice a month, a practice with the old one that I had only started once a month this year, hence probably why it wasn’t working as efficiently as it should have. 

Nonetheless, this summer, I plan to be more on top of what is necessary for me to stay safe going forward. This includes staying indoors, eating light meals and salty snacks along with carrying a wet cloth, continuously looking for shade, drinking water and wearing light, loose clothing to name a few. 

I am also aware that I need to be more mindful of the signs of heat exhaustion which include dizziness or fainting, cold or clammy skin, excessive sweating and muscle cramps. In addition, it is also going to be key to be aware of the signs of heat stroke when I am not sweating, my skin is dry and hot, I have throbbing headaches, or a change in mental state. At that juncture, it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately.

The heat can also make us quite irritable people if we let it get to us. It can be one of the hardest obstacles of the day. That is why it is imperative to have a plan to get through the day when hot weather is predicted. Make plans should hot weather be abound to stay cool in whatever way you can. Just having a fan is not a valid way to cool off, rather it is imperative to have actual air conditioning and if you cannot have that, seek places that have air conditioning such as a library or shopping mall, however you may want to verify before you go to select places because my local library is 120 years old and the only room that has Air conditioning is the computer lab which is time limited.

Nonetheless, do what you can do in order to protect yourself as warmer weather approaches to stay cool and hydrated.

Additional Resources

• Get more detailed information about heat-related illnesses from the CDC and National Weather Service.
• Extreme Heat Information Sheet (PDF)
• Children, Pets and Vehicles (weather.gov)
• National Weather Service Heat Safety Tips and Resources
• National Weather Service – Heat Illnesses
• National Integrated Heat Health Information System (heat.gov)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Extreme Heat
• Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness