Officials urge caution during heat wave

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management has activated the state Emergency Coordination Center in response to the upcoming heatwave, Gov. Tina Kotek’s office announced Wednesday, July 3. Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson declared a state of emergency from noon Friday, July 5 through noon Monday, July 8.

Temperatures as high as 105 degrees are forecasted in Portland on Saturday. Southern Oregon will see even higher temperatures, up to 113 degrees in Medford.

Hyperthermia, the medical term for an abnormally high body temperature, has caused more than a hundred deaths during heat waves in Oregon in recent years.

Oregonians should be monitoring themselves and their loved ones for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include feeling dizzy; excessive sweating; nausea or vomiting; clammy skin and muscle cramps.

Symptoms of heat stroke include feeling confused; high body temperatures; nausea or vomiting and becoming unconscious. Heavy sweating may continue, like in heat exhaustion, but heat stroke can also cause the person to stop sweating and leave their skin hot and dry.

Heat stroke can cause death if emergency medical attention isn’t received, so 9-1-1 should be contacted.

For both heat stroke and heat exhaustion, the person needs to be cooled down quickly. Move the person to a cooler area, loosen clothing and remove extra layers, and cool with water or ice packs. Heat exhaustion can be treated more mildly, like with a spray of cold water, while heat stroke requires more extreme measures, like putting the person in a cool bath or placing ice packs on the neck, armpits and groin.

Offer cold water or a caffeine and alcohol-free drink containing electrolytes, like Gatorade.

“If you are concerned that someone may be in distress because of the heat, you can ask how they're doing and if they need help finding a cool space. Heat illness requires action and possibly medical attention. Heat stroke is a medical emergency,” Multnomah County said in a press release announcing the state of emergency. “If you're not comfortable approaching them, you can call the non-emergency line for a welfare check at 503-823-3333 and say ‘welfare check.’ If you see someone having a medical emergency, call 911. Hold times may be longer during the July 4 holiday weekend.”

Dehydration is a major concern during the heatwave.

“Regardless of your level of activity, drink plenty of fluids, even if you are not thirsty, and especially when working outside,” the Oregon Health Authority advised. “Avoid alcohol or liquids containing large amounts of sugar, which can increase dehydration. Alcohol can be especially dangerous when used as a substitute for water hydration, and increases risks of alcohol-related injuries.”

Cars can heat up dangerously fast.

“In under three minutes, the interior temperature of your vehicle can soar from 78 to 100 degrees, putting children, the elderly and pets in danger of hyperthermia or heat stroke,” the ambulance company American Medical Response wrote in a list of safety reminders ahead of the heat wave. “If you see a child, an older adult or an animal left in a hot car, call 911 immediately.”

Oregon law also protects people who break a car window if necessary to save a child or pet left in a dangerously hot car.

Pools and splash pads will be open during the heat wave and are listed on an online map .

Hot days are a great time to take a dip in the Pacific Northwest’s rivers and lakes, but drowning incidents are all too common during heat waves.

Swimmers should never swim alone and should have approved flotation devices like a life vest, not just inflatable toys or inner tubes, AMR said.

“Never dive into rivers or lakes; each year, nearly 3,000 people are paralyzed as a result of diving into shallow water or hitting an unseen underwater obstruction,” AMR said.

Staying indoors won’t necessarily keep people safe from the heat.

The June 2021 heat dome shattered previous heat records with temperatures as high as 116 degrees, resulting in 69 hyperthermia deaths in Multnomah County. The July 2022 heat wave set a new record for the longest stretch of extreme heat in the region, with seven consecutive days of daily high temperatures above 95 degrees, resulting in four heat-related deaths. In both years, the majority of the people who died were in their homes and did not have air conditioning.

Residents are urged to check in on their neighbors and family members, particularly elderly or disabled people who are more susceptible to heat-related illness.

“Heat-related illnesses can make it hard to think clearly. This means people may be in danger without realizing it. Make sure loved ones have what they need to stay cool,” the Oregon Health Authority cautioned. Heat-related illness can develop in as few as 10 minutes, OHA said.

Multnomah County plans to open cooling centers, but has not yet announced locations or hours.

“The County and its partners are preparing to open cooling centers and offer other cool spaces in light of the forecast. The location and hours of operation for any cooling centers will be announced the day before the County determines the threshold has been passed,” the county announced on July 3.

Multnomah County activates cooling shelters when the National Weather Service’s HeatRisk tool forecasts extreme risk in any part of the county. Extreme risk is 4 on a 0 to 4 scale of heat-related impacts. Most of the county is forecasted at major risk, 3, from Friday through Monday. Portions of the county are forecasted for extreme risk on Saturday and Sunday.

The National Weather Service describes extreme risk as a “level of rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief,” which “affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts likely in most health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure.”

In deciding when to open cooling centers, the county also considers other factors, like the time of year, the duration of daily high and low temperatures, and overlapping hazards, Sullivan-Springhetti said.

Multnomah County Libraries will also be open for normal hours over the weekend. Locations and hours are listed on the library website .

It’s too late to get a free air conditioner for this weekend, but Oregonians on Medicaid and low-income Portlanders can apply for free AC units to be ready for the next heat wave.

Oregon launched climate-related benefits for Oregon Health Plan members four months ago, distributing air conditioners, air purifiers, and other devices to nearly 1,000 OHP members.

Oregon Health Plan members can contact their Coordinated Care Organization for more information.

In Portland, residents are eligible for a free AC if their household makes 60% or less of the Area Median Income. Portlanders can apply online or by calling 3-1-1.