Girding the grid for a hotter world
2026-08-10
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On Aug 2 the South Korean city of Yangsan hit 42.5 degrees Celsius — the highest temperature in 122 years of record-keeping. Seoul received its first-ever severe heat wave warning. More than 20 people have died, most of them over 80.
On Aug 4, President Lee Jae-myung called the heat wave a national disaster. Then he gave an order that tells you everything about the modern world: inspect the power system.
He was right to. In a heat wave, the grid is the difference between discomfort and catastrophe. Air conditioning, hospital cooling, refrigerated medicine, water pumping — all of it hangs on wires most people never think about until the lights go out.
Europe is counting its heat dead again this summer. Record electricity demand is being set across the Northern Hemisphere. Behind every one of those headlines sits a question ordinary readers understand before they finish reading it: can the grid withstand a hotter world?
I have spent my career on that question. In January 1998, at the Electric Power Research Institute in California, I created and led a research program built on an unusual premise that the power grid could learn to heal itself. We called it the Complex Interactive Networks/Systems Initiative — 108 professors at 28 universities, 52 utilities and the US Department of Defense. Out of that work came the concept, and the name, of the smart grid: a network with sensors for nerves, computation for reflexes and the ability to isolate damage before it spreads.
Here is what heat does to that network, in plain terms. Demand surges as millions of air conditioners switch on at once. At the same moment, the grid itself weakens. Transmission lines sag and carry less power. Transformers run hot and age faster.
Power plants lose efficiency in warm air and warm cooling water. The system is asked to do the most precisely when it can do the least. A smart grid exists for this moment — to see the stress building, shift the load and keep the most important circuits alive.
Twenty-eight years after those whiteboard sketches in Palo Alto, the largest laboratory for these ideas is on the other side of the Pacific. China crossed 10,000 terawatt-hours of electricity consumption in 2025 — the first nation ever to do so.
State Grid Corporation of China invested a record 650 billion yuan ($96.33 billion) last year.
The new five-year plan calls for more than 5 trillion yuan of grid investment through 2030, including 15 new ultra-high-voltage corridors carrying wind and solar power from the western deserts to the eastern coast.
The United States and Europe are taking a slower, market-driven path. The strain shows. The International Energy Agency counts more than 2,500 gigawatts of projects stalled in grid-connection queues worldwide. Global grid investment runs about $400 billion a year; the IEA says it must grow by half again by 2030 just to keep pace.
Generation has raced ahead. The wires have not.
And the heat is only the first wave. The second is already arriving: artificial intelligence. Data centers consumed roughly 485 terawatt-hours globally in 2025 and are on track to approach 950 by 2030. Electricity demand from AI-focused facilities alone grew 50 percent last year. The two pressures now land on the same wires, in the same summers.
Three great experiments are running at once. China is testing whether centralized planning can build transmission fast enough to carry a renewable buildout of unprecedented scale. The US is testing whether markets can reprice reliability quickly enough to serve an AI boom nobody scheduled. Europe is testing whether interconnected national grids can hold together under stress — a question made vivid by the April 2025 Iberian blackout, when an overvoltage-driven cascade darkened two countries in minutes.
Each experiment will teach the others. None can afford to fail alone.
What should we do? The engineering answers are known and unglamorous. Build transmission before it is needed, not after. Put sensing and automated protection deep into distribution networks, where most outages begin. Treat demand flexibility — the ability of data centers, factories and buildings to shift their load — as a resource equal to any power plant. Train the workforce; the IEA warns that people and supply chains, not technology, are the tightest constraints. And share what we learn across borders, because heat ignores them, and electrons obey physics, not politics.
It also means remembering what a grid is for. A grid is not a market abstraction or a policy instrument. It is the quiet machine beneath every hospital ventilator, every water pump, every fan turning in an elderly person's room in Yangsan or Yeongdeungpo in South Korea. When engineers argue about transmission capacity and reserve margins, the real subject is whether ordinary people can trust the wall socket.
Repair is a decision. I trust it because I have watched it happen, in power systems and elsewhere: the deliberate, unheroic choice to strengthen what holds rather than argue about what failed.
Laozi (Lao Tzu) wrote: "Do the difficult things while they are easy, and do the great things while they are small." The grid taught me the same lesson in a different language. The time to strengthen the foundation is before the weight arrives.
This summer, the weight arrived.
The author is a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota and a Fellow of IEEE and ASME. In 1998, at the Electric Power Research Institute, he created, funded and led the research consortium that developed the smart, self-healing grid.
He is widely recognized as the "father of the smart grid".
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"China Cool" is trending! Come to China for a cool summer getaway!
2026-08-07
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Escape the Heat in China This Summer
Foreign tourists visiting the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province.
Recently, "China Cool" has become a buzzword. Thanks to its vast territory and diverse summer retreat resources, China caters to the varied needs of domestic and international tourists—whether they seek to cool off, sightsee, or enjoy in-depth travel experiences. Bolstered by favorable factors such as visa-free policies and excellent tourism infrastructure, many foreign tourists are flocking to China this summer to escape the heat, and the country’s summer offerings continue to garner praise.
"I’ve Arrived in Nature’s ‘Air-Conditioned Room’"
Walnut kernels, cinnamon, *rushan* (a type of dairy snack), and Sichuan peppercorns—none of these ingredients look like what one would typically expect in tea. Spanish tourist Juan Antonio watched with curiosity as they were added to the teacup one by one.
In the lounge of the Shangri-La Hotel in Kunming, Antonio was keenly experiencing the intangible cultural heritage ceremony of the Bai ethnic group’s "Three-Course Tea." He took a cautious sip: "A bitter, charred taste hit the tip of my tongue first, followed by the milky aroma of the *rushan*, and then a hint of numbing sensation rising from the back of my tongue." Antonio told the reporter, "It’s amazing—an experience like no other!"
"The first course is bitter tea, the second is sweet tea, and the third is the tea of lingering aftertaste; only after finishing all three cups can one truly say they have experienced the hospitality of the Bai people," explained tea artist Zhang Li.
Antonio’s trip to Yunnan had a single purpose: to find a cool escape.
Since the start of summer, Europe has been battered by successive heatwaves; Spain, in particular, has been scorched by temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius—"hot as an oven." When his flight landed in Kunming and the cabin door opened, a gentle breeze greeted him, and the temperature felt like a comfortable 24 or 25 degrees Celsius. "I’ve arrived in nature’s ‘air-conditioned room’!" Antonio exclaimed.
While in Kunming, Antonio made a special visit to Yuantong Temple. With a history spanning over 1,200 years, this ancient temple breaks the conventional architectural mold by being built on a downward slope; as one descends step by step into the temple grounds, the city's hustle and bustle—and the summer heat—seem to fade away. "An ancient temple standing in calm composure, facing a high-rise just a hundred meters away—this is the China I wanted to discover," said Anthony.
This was Anthony’s eighth visit to China, but his first time in Yunnan. Before arriving, he had read several books about the region; while he couldn't yet distinguish the nuances of the various ethnic groups' costumes and customs, the urge to see it all firsthand made him feel like a child about to open a treasure chest.
Kunming was merely the overture. Next, Anthony would travel to Dali to experience Bai-style tie-dyeing, explore ancient Naxi residences in Lijiang, gaze at the "Golden Mountain" (sunlight hitting the peaks) in Shangri-La, and take a detour to the Yuanyang Rice Terraces to look down upon the "fingerprints of the earth." Each stop was like a different ingredient in the traditional "Three-Course Tea" ceremony, adding rich, layered flavors to his memories of Yunnan.
"An excellent summer retreat"
At the Huangshizhai Scenic Area within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park—situated at an altitude of over 1,200 meters—lush greenery abounds and cool breezes blow, keeping the temperature among the forest of peaks at a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius.
Foreign tourists strolled along the sightseeing paths, pausing to take photos and soak in the panoramic views of the quartz sandstone peaks, fully enjoying the cool, pleasant atmosphere of this misty, high-altitude wonderland. French tourist Isabelle Sala remarked, "It’s a wonderful journey; being immersed in nature with my family feels amazing! It feels so cool here, and the air is incredibly fresh."
Cool breezes swept across the summit, while the waters of the Golden Whip Stream murmured below. Shaded by trees along its course, the stream remains a crystal-clear 16 to 18 degrees Celsius year-round. Walking along the Golden Whip Stream, Belgian tourist Charles Bourgeois marveled, "The forest park is stunning. You can admire the beautiful scenery while staying cool—it’s a perfect place to escape the summer heat."
"Three thousand strange peaks and eight hundred beautiful waters"—this phrase vividly captures the breathtaking scenery of Zhangjiajie. To reach the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area and view the forest of peaks, visitors take the Bailong Elevator; rising a vertical distance of 335 meters, it whisks passengers to the summit in just 88 seconds. The Bailong Elevator observation deck is a popular spot for international tourists; as the elevator car rapidly ascends, visitors are treated to a panoramic view of quartz sandstone peaks in a myriad of shapes.
To handle the summer influx of visitors, the scenic area has implemented various measures to keep things cool and comfortable, thereby enhancing the overall visitor experience. Luca Rossi, a tourist from Italy, remarked, "The service here is excellent, and the scenery is breathtaking. Traveling in China has been incredibly convenient, and the people are so friendly; my friends and I have made wonderful memories here."
Beyond the natural scenery, the area's diverse range of activities also appeals to international tourists. Visitors can walk across the glass bridge, tackle the *via ferrata* climbing route, or ride the high-altitude zipline, fully immersing themselves in the joy of outdoor sports. Statistics show that during the one-month summer peak, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park welcomed 104,100 international tourist visits—a year-on-year increase of 46.78%—with visitors hailing from 148 countries and regions worldwide.
"The most comfortable summer ever"
Location: Mohe, Heilongjiang
Early in the morning in Arctic Village, Mohe, Heilongjiang, a light mist hangs over the river, and the breeze drifting through the pine forest carries a refreshing chill—the temperature is a cool 17°C. Li Huimin, a tourist from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, stands wrapped in a light windbreaker before the "Northernmost Point of China" stone monument, snapping photos of the vast, pristine Russian forests on the opposite bank.
"It’s nearly 35°C during the day in Kuala Lumpur right now; you’re drenched in sweat just minutes after stepping outside. But here, even the breeze is cool, and I actually need a quilt to sleep at night," Li says with a smile. It is the first time she has spent a summer without running the air conditioning all night long. "Traveling all the way from the tropics to China's northernmost point—the contrast is truly amazing."
Since the start of summer, the number of international flights connecting Harbin, Heilongjiang, to destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia has increased. Consequently, more Southeast Asian tourists are choosing to head north, making Mohe their summer getaway destination.
Mohe boasts an average summer temperature of around 19°C and a forest coverage rate exceeding 90%. Its unique geographical location grants it exceptionally long daylight hours in summer; the "City That Never Sleeps" phenomenon—characterized by its unique celestial light—combined with the vast, rugged border forests, holds immense appeal for tourists from Southeast Asia who are accustomed to tropical climates. Statistics show that Southeast Asia has become a key source region for inbound tourism to Heilongjiang.
Strolling through Arctic Village, tourists from Bangkok, Thailand, can be found in the "Northernmost Post Office" carefully selecting postcards featuring aurora and forest motifs; they stamp them with the exclusive "China's Northernmost Point" postmark before sending them home. At the "I've Found the North" stone monument on Arctic Sandbar, Singaporean tourists queue up to take photos, capturing the fun of "finding the North." Nearby, at the Ewenki Reindeer Tribe settlement, Vietnamese tourists hold moss to interact with reindeer, immersing themselves in the unique local lifestyle. The magnificent river bend at "Longjiang's First Bay" and the misty morning wetlands of the "Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns" have also become popular spots for foreign visitors.
At 8:00 PM, while it is still daylight, Li Huimin and her companions sit on the stone steps by the river, waiting for the chance to spot the aurora as night falls. A refreshing evening breeze sweeps by, carrying the sound of rustling pine trees. "Traveling from the tropics to China's Arctic—this has been the most comfortable summer I've ever experienced," Li Huimin says, gazing at the shimmering water.
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El Nino In 2026 May Set A Record
2026-08-06
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Since this spring, the sea temperature in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific has been persistently abnormally high, and the El Nino phenomenon has developed rapidly. The main meteorological institutions at home and abroad all predict that this El Nino will continue to strengthen, with a high probability of reaching the standard of strong or even super strong, and may last until early spring of 2027.
The strong El Nino event in the context of global warming not only increases the risk of extreme weather, but will also produce a series of long-term effects by affecting agricultural production, product prices and global supply chains.
Strong El Nino is coming
At present, the conclusions of domestic and foreign prediction models on the development of El Nino phenomenon are highly consistent, and it is expected to reach the standard of strong or even super El Nino.
According to the latest prediction of the National Climate Center of China, the sea surface temperature of the equatorial central and eastern Pacific will continue to rise in the future, and a strong-super El Nino event will form in the summer and autumn.
The latest monthly "Global Seasonal Climate Update" released by the World Meteorological Organization shows that from July to September 2026, the El Nino state will rapidly develop into a strong El Nino event. The multi-model ensemble forecast from multiple major prediction centers around the world shows that the sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean continues to rise significantly, and the seasonal average sea surface temperature in key monitoring areas is expected to be more than 2 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average.
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center reported on the 9th that in the past month, the sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean has continued to rise, and the coupling characteristics of the ocean and atmosphere indicate that the El Nino phenomenon is strengthening. It is expected to continue to strengthen in the second half of this year, and there is a 97% probability that it will continue until early spring of 2027. The probability of a strong El Nino event from October to December this year is 81%, and its intensity may rank among the strongest El Nino events since 1950.
According to the latest announcement issued by the Peruvian El Niño Research Institute, the coastal El Niño will gradually reach its strongest stage from August to November and may develop into a very strong level.
Extreme weather is more frequent and stronger
The World Meteorological Organization issued a press release at the beginning of this month, saying that the El Nino state has developed in the tropical Pacific region, and that it is expected to rapidly intensify in the coming months, thereby increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and heavy rainfall in many parts of the world.
Experts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts also said on the 7th that the overall strength of the current El Nino phenomenon is expected to set a new record, and all parts of the world are facing the risk of droughts, floods and other extreme weather events related to it.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, it is expected that El Nino will continue to strengthen in the northern hemisphere in the autumn, and its impact will extend to many regions of the world.In terms of temperature, it is highly likely that the temperature in most land areas between 60°S and 60°N will be higher than the average annual temperature, which covers almost all densely populated areas outside the polar regions.In terms of rainfall, the central and eastern equatorial Pacific is more likely to have above-normal rainfall, while parts of the tropical Indian Ocean, the Indian subcontinent, and most of Australia are more likely to have below-normal rainfall.
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California in the United States, said that this El Nino event is unusual. It not only has broken many records in the current period, but also occurs in the context of burning coal, oil and gas causing global warming, so it cannot be simply assumed that it will completely replicate the impact of the strong El Nino event in history.
Many climate scientists predict that the combination of global warming and the release of accumulated heat in the ocean caused by El Nino will likely set a new record for the global average temperature in the coming months. Zachary Labe, a researcher at the U.S. independent climate research institution Climate Central, said that a strong El Nino will increase the likelihood of setting "stunning" temperature records in the next 6 to 12 months.
Beware of long-term effects
In addition to bringing extreme weather, El Nino will also have a long-term and far-reaching negative impact on economic and social development. Sabha Netukandi Chenoli, an associate professor of geography at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Malaya, said that at present, it is the southwest monsoon season in Malaysia, and the rainfall is relatively low. El Nino will further suppress the rainfall, making the forests and peatlands drier and increasing the risk of fires. At the same time, the continuous drought may also lead to a decrease in river flow and a decline in reservoir water levels, putting pressure on the production of major agricultural products such as palm oil, natural rubber, and rice, and affecting tourism, transportation, public health, and other fields to varying degrees.
When the Central Savings Bank of Peru released its monetary policy report for July, it predicted that the El Nino phenomenon would drag down Peru's economic growth this year. Adrian Armas, general manager of economic research at the Central Bank of Peru, told the media that the central bank's current economic forecast is based on the assumption that a strong El Nino phenomenon will occur this year.In this scenario, El Niño is expected to reduce Peru's GDP growth rate by 0.7 percentage points in 2026.
The British Financial Times believes that in the era of globalization, El Nino is no longer a simple meteorological concept, but has become an important risk factor that can affect global market expectations. The International Monetary Fund also pointed out in its research that the impact of El Nino is not limited to the countries where abnormal weather occurs, but will also be transmitted to other countries through international trade, cross-border investment and product markets, and its impact may affect economies that have not directly encountered extreme weather.
Tian Zemin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Nanjing University, said that the impact of El Nino has obvious cross-regional characteristics. Due to its cross-industry characteristics and lag, it is necessary to strengthen climate prediction and early warning, key industry linkage, and supply chain risk management from the perspective of climate risk chain to prevent and respond to El Nino, so as to enhance the systematic response ability of the whole society to strong El Nino.
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The Earth is "running a fever"! Temperatures of 50°C have become a reality : What does the future hold?
2026-08-05
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The World Meteorological Organization released its "State of the Global Climate 2025" report, delivering a sobering conclusion: the period from 2015 to 2025 will be the 11 hottest years on record.
Globally, many places have broken extreme temperature records of 50°C. Heat waves, once rare, are now more widespread, more frequent, and longer-lasting.
High temperatures are no longer distant news, but a global norm we must all face. Behind the Earth's persistent "fever" lies a climate truth that deserves our deep reflection.
Below, PeakVision will analyze it for you!
I. Data Shatters False Hopes: 11 Consecutive Years of Scorching Heat, the Threshold for High Temperatures Continues to Rise
Many people always thought that "extreme high temperatures are just short-term anomalies," but eleven consecutive years of record-breaking high temperatures completely overturn this illusion.
The report shows that the current global average temperature is 1.44°C higher than pre-industrial levels, greenhouse gas concentrations are breaking historical records year after year, and the Earth's heat balance is completely unbalanced. More solar radiation is entering the Earth than dissipating, with over 90% of the excess heat trapped in the oceans, slowly baking the land.
A decade or so ago, 40°C was considered rare extreme weather; now, temperatures in Northeast China, the Gobi Desert in Northwest China, and southern cities are repeatedly exceeding 42°C, while parts of the Middle East and India frequently approach or even surpass 50°C.
Heat waves that used to peak in July or August are now sweeping across many countries in May or June, significantly extending the high-temperature season, and the "cool summer" is gradually becoming a memory. This eleven-year cycle of high temperatures is not a natural climate fluctuation, but a long-term trend brought about by human-induced warming.
II. The "Heat Dome" Locks in Heat Waves: Why Are 50°C Temperatures Becoming More Common?
Many people wonder why a temperature increase of just over 1°C can lead to extreme heat reaching 50°C. The core reason lies in the heat dome effect.
The accumulation of greenhouse gases stabilizes atmospheric high-pressure systems, acting like an airtight lid over cities. Descending air currents suppress clouds and rain, trapping heat and causing ground temperatures to soar.
This is compounded by accelerated warming in the Arctic, disrupting global atmospheric circulation. The number of cold air masses that previously brought southward cooling has significantly decreased, while the subtropical high pressure system has shifted northward unchecked. Where temperatures once only reached tropical deserts at 50°C, now even temperate cities are not immune to the scorching heat.
Even more unbearable is the humid heat. High humidity hinders sweat evaporation, making a 37°C feel like a dry 50°C – the sauna-like conditions of Northeast China this year are a prime example. Simply put, global warming has raised the baseline temperature, amplifying the intensity of all extreme heat waves.
III. The Chain Reaction of High Temperatures: More Than Just Physical Discomfort – Impacts Every Aspect of Life
The harm caused by persistent high temperatures is far more than just "sweating outdoors"; it's a chain reaction crisis that affects everything.
On the health front, high temperatures trigger heatstroke and cardiovascular diseases, doubling the risks for outdoor workers, the elderly, and children. In agriculture, persistent droughts scorch crops, increasing the risk of global food shortages year by year.
On the infrastructure front, softened roads, overloaded power grids, and depleted reservoirs are just some of the problems caused by climate change. The destruction of the national highway in Dunhuang by floods and the temporary closure of the Mogao Grottoes due to extreme weather are microcosms of this climate disruption.
Furthermore, high temperatures exacerbate wildfires, heavy rainfall, and flash floods, leading to frequent and dramatic shifts between drought and flood. High temperatures are no longer just a weather issue, but a systemic risk threatening people's livelihoods, the economy, and the environment.
IV. Refuse to Lie Down and Watch: Small Things Ordinary People Can Do to Cool Down, But They Can Gather Immense Power
Combating global warming is not only the responsibility of governments and businesses; ordinary people's daily choices can also slow down the rate at which the Earth is "overheating."
Prefer rail and cycling for travel, and reduce private car use for short distances to decrease carbon emissions; set air conditioning to at least 26°C in summer, and turn off appliances when not in use to save electricity; refuse food waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming; reduce single-use plastic products and practice waste sorting.
These seemingly small habits, if consistently maintained by hundreds of millions of people, can significantly reduce the rate of carbon emission growth.
At the same time, we must proactively adapt to the new normal of high temperatures: reduce outdoor work during hot periods, improve urban greening and shading facilities to enhance urban heat resistance, proactively learn about heatstroke prevention and disaster preparedness, and no longer take extreme heatwaves lightly.
PeakVision wants to say: Eleven years of continuous high temperatures and widespread 50°C heat waves are an urgent warning from Earth.
In the past, we always considered global warming a distant concept, but now scorching heat, flash floods, and droughts are upon us one after another. Earth's fever will not subside on its own; climate repair requires long-term commitment.
Whether it's the macro-level low-carbon transformation of industries or each individual's green travel and electricity saving, these are all effective remedies for cooling down the Earth.
Only by facing the normalization of high temperatures and actively practicing a low-carbon lifestyle can we prevent extreme heat of 50°C from becoming a daily occurrence every year in the future.
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A place where heatstroke is very likely to occur, which most people overlook
2026-08-04
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Understanding and Preventing Indoor Heatstroke
Many people misunderstand heatstroke, believing it only occurs after prolonged exposure to the sun and that staying indoors and avoiding direct sunlight will prevent it.
In fact, many cases of heatstroke are caused by staying indoors in a stuffy environment, especially among the elderly who don't like using air conditioning.
Elderly people who don't like using air conditioning are prone to heatstroke.
Recent Cases Highlight the Risk
Recently, the emergency department of a well-known hospital admitted two patients with heatstroke at home, both caused by relying solely on fans for cooling during hot weather without air conditioning. The emergency department also admitted an elderly person suffering from heatstroke at night; due to the enclosed and humid environment of their home, they presented with symptoms such as high fever, weakness, and palpitations, with a body temperature reaching 39.1℃ upon arrival.
The core culprit for these elderly people's heatstroke is not direct sunlight, but rather "high temperature + high humidity + poor ventilation."
Some experts say that during the hottest days of summer, temperatures rise and humidity increases. If homes are kept closed for extended periods without ventilation, air circulation is impaired, leading to the accumulation of hot and humid air. When the temperature exceeds 32℃ and the relative humidity is greater than or equal to 60%, the body's heat dissipation is significantly hindered, and the risk of heatstroke increases significantly.
Why the Elderly are Vulnerable
High temperature and humidity environments are especially difficult for the elderly.
As people age, the body's thermoregulation function gradually weakens, the ability to sweat declines, and the ability to sense temperature decreases. Therefore, the elderly may already have a high body temperature but do not feel it. Some elderly people are reluctant to turn on the air conditioner due to thrift or fear of cold drafts, only turning on the fan to cool down when it is unbearably hot, making them more prone to heatstroke.
What are the Signs of Indoor Heatstroke?
The elderly and their families should pay close attention to their physical condition and deal with any abnormalities promptly. Heatstroke has the following stages:
Heat exhaustion (prodromal symptoms): During heat exhaustion, there will be profuse sweating, thirst, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, tinnitus, and weakness in the limbs, while body temperature is usually normal.
Mild heatstroke: Symptoms include mild to moderate fever, flushed or pale face, hot or cold and clammy skin, nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse, and decreased blood pressure. At this time, move the patient to a cool, well-ventilated, and quiet place to rest, and replenish fluids and electrolytes appropriately.
Severe Heatstroke: This condition is more critical and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Excessive sweating after exercise can easily induce fever and cramps, which is more common in young adults; the elderly and patients with chronic diseases often experience heat exhaustion, typically manifested as excessive sweating, cold and clammy skin, pale complexion, and decreased blood pressure. In the most severe cases, heatstroke may occur, with patients experiencing high fever, accompanied by delirium, convulsions, coma, and other severe impairments of consciousness.
In the event of any of these dangerous situations, immediately call emergency services or take the patient to a hospital. Simultaneously, immediately move the patient to a cool, well-ventilated place, and use damp towels, ice packs, fans, etc., to moderately cool them down.
Three Things to Do to Prevent Indoor Heatstroke
In summer, outdoor temperatures are hot and humid, and the elderly tend to spend more time at home due to reduced outdoor activity. To create a comfortable and livable indoor space, do the following:
Control temperature and humidity; don't try to tough it out if you feel hot.
Keep a thermometer and hygrometer at home. If the temperature and humidity are too high, turn on the air conditioner to cool down. While the cooling mode provides a strong airflow and direct cold air, prolonged use can quickly lower the room temperature, but the air may still remain damp and sticky.
Short-term use of dehumidification mode, depending on the indoor humidity, helps sweat evaporate normally, lowering the temperature while keeping the body dry. It's recommended to set the air conditioner temperature between 26℃ and 28℃, ensuring the indoor and outdoor temperature difference does not exceed 7℃. When indoor humidity drops to 40% to 60%, sweat can evaporate normally, directly lowering the perceived temperature by 2 to 4℃.
Proper ventilation is key to warding off indoor heat.
Many elderly people keep doors and windows tightly closed all day, which is a mistake. During the hottest part of the day, windows can be closed while using air conditioning, but in the cooler mornings and evenings, windows should be opened for 20-30 minutes. When using air conditioning, ventilate every 2-3 hours, or leave a small crack in the window to allow air circulation.
Alternatively, when the outdoor temperature is low, place a fan one or two meters away from the open window, directing the airflow directly at the window to accelerate air circulation and quickly lower the temperature. Placing green plants such as pothos and spider plants indoors can help dissipate some heat through transpiration.
To avoid dehydration, replenish electrolytes frequently.
Experts suggest that older adults actively replenish fluids, drinking a small glass of warm water every 1-2 hours even if they are not thirsty. They can increase their water intake before and after meals or medication to maintain fluid balance.
Daily water intake should be at least 1500-2000 ml. Those with heart or kidney diseases should follow their doctor's advice regarding water intake. When sweating excessively, a suitable amount of salt and sugar can be added to the water. In addition, mung bean soup, plum juice, and lotus seed and lily bulb porridge are good choices for relieving heat. Try to drink less or avoid cold drinks and sugary beverages.
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