As temperatures rise in North Carolina, health officials are urging residents to Take care in extreme heat.

“We may not consider heat a hazard in the same way we would a storm or a hurricane, but it’s there. It’s present and therefore affects us,” Nikhil Kothegal, head of the Climate and Health Program at the NCDHHS, told Enlace Latino NC. 

According to Kothegal, this danger increases considerably when nighttime temperatures remain above 75 degrees, preventing the body from adequately recovering from daytime heat exposure.

Who is at greater risk?

According to Autumn Locklear, a climate and health epidemiologist, the people most at risk from extreme heat are:

• Workers who perform their duties outdoors (for example: farm workers, builders, among others)
• Babies and children
• Older adults
• Pregnant women
• Athletes
• People with pre-existing health problems
• People living outdoors
• Low-income individuals who may not have access to air conditioning

Related:  How seniors and people with disabilities can get a free ventilator in North Carolina

Practical strategies to combat extreme heat

For those who work outdoors, Kothegal recommended following the "water, rest and shade" strategy.

• Water:  Stay hydrated by taking frequent breaks to drink water.
• Break:  Take regular breaks to allow your body to recover from the heat. Kothegal recommended that workers should try to remove any personal protective equipment they are wearing during breaks to better help their bodies cool down.
• Shadow:  When taking a break, people should try to find some kind of shaded shelter.

For people who are indoors without air conditioning, Locklear suggested several practical methods:

• Electric fans:  Fans can effectively cool young, healthy adults in temperatures up to 108 degrees and 50% humidity. However, their effectiveness decreases for older adults or when humidity is lower.
• To wet the body:  Wetting the skin with water is an effective method for cooling down at temperatures up to 117 degrees, provided the skin is sufficiently wet.
• Foot immersion:  Soaking your feet in cold water can significantly reduce dehydration and thermal discomfort.

Cooling centers in the Triangle area

Wake County

The cooling centers in Wake County will be open daily until July 11. These are:

• Wake County Public Libraries: Open Monday through Saturday
• Regional and Health and Human Services Centers: Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:15 pm

County Durham

Cooling centers in County Durham are activated whenever the heat index reaches 100 degrees, or when the forecast temperature is 90 degrees or higher. These are:

• Durham County Public Libraries: All branches (except Bragtown). During regular business hours.
• Community Safety Department: Located at 101 S. Driver St. Open Monday through Thursday, 11 am to 4 pm

Kothegal added that for those who need immediate relief but do not have air conditioning, they can call NC 2-1-1, a free service to locate cooling centers throughout the state depending on your location.

Experts recommend knowing how to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

On summerIn particular, the authorities recommended knowing how to recognize the symptoms and the difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke. heatstroke.

Remember:  How to protect our pets from the heat?

Other state programs and resources

Operation Fan for Heat Relief

Until October 31, the NCDHHS will be conducting the Heat Relief Fan Operation. This provides free ventilators to eligible individuals.

Crisis Intervention Program

El North Carolina Crisis Intervention Program accepts applications to help low-income people with paying their energy bills.

You can complete the application for energy assistance programs, available in Spanish on their website.

Related:  Extreme Weather in North Carolina: What Actions Should Be Taken?

Stay informed: The heat health alert system

Locklear mentioned that the NCDHHS Climate and Health Program has a North Carolina Heat Health Alert System, which sends alerts via email when the heat index in your county reaches dangerous levels.

“Throughout the summer, from May 1 to September 30, we check the heat index forecast for all 100 counties in the state twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays,” Locklear explained.

“If any of those counties are expected to reach or exceed the heat index threshold, we issue email alerts about heat and health,” he added.

To subscribe to this free service to receive alerts, please complete the form on your websiteThe information is also available in Spanish.

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How to protect yourself from the extreme heat this summer in North Carolina?

by Emilia Rivadeneira, Enlace Latino NC
July 9, 2026

Enlace Latino NC July 9, 2026 As temperatures rise in North Carolina, health officials are urging residents to take precautions against the extreme heat . "We may not think of heat as a hazard in the same way we would a storm or a hurricane, but it's there. It's present and therefore affects us," Nikhil Kothegal, head of the Climate and Health Program at the NCDHHS, told Enlace Latino NC. According to Kothegal, this danger increases considerably when nighttime temperatures remain above 75 degrees, preventing the body from adequately recovering from daytime heat exposure. Who is at greater risk? According to Autumn Locklear, a climate and health epidemiologist, the people most at risk from extreme heat are: Workers who perform their jobs outdoors (for example: agricultural workers , construction workers, among others) Babies and children Older adults Pregnant women Athletes People with pre-existing health problems People living outdoors Low-income individuals who may not have access to air conditioning Related: How seniors and people with disabilities can get a free ventilator in North Carolina Practical strategies to combat extreme heat For those who work outdoors, Kothegal recommended following the "water, rest and shade" strategy. Water: Stay hydrated by taking frequent breaks to drink water. Rest: Take regular breaks to allow your body to recover from the heat. Kothegal recommended that workers should try to remove any personal protective equipment they are wearing during breaks to better help their bodies cool down. Shade: When taking a break, people should try to find some kind of shaded shelter. For people who are indoors without air conditioning, Locklear suggested several practical methods: Electric fans: Fans can effectively cool young, healthy adults with temperatures up to 108 degrees and 50% humidity. However, its effectiveness decreases in the case of older adults or when humidity is lower. Wetting the body: Wetting the skin with water is an effective method to cool down at temperatures up to 117 degrees, provided the skin is sufficiently wet. Foot immersion: Soaking your feet in cold water can significantly reduce dehydration and thermal discomfort. Cooling centers in the Triangle area Wake County The cooling centers in Wake County will be open every day until July 11. These are: Wake County Public Libraries: Open Monday through Saturday Regional and Health and Human Services Centers: Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am at 5:15 pm Regional Center in Wake County Address Wake County Health & Human Services 220 Swinburne St., Raleigh Departure Regional Center 5809 Departure Drive, Raleigh Eastern Regional Center 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon Northern Regional Center 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest Southern Regional Center 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina Western Human Services Center 111 James Jackson Ave., Cary County of Durham Cooling centers in County Durham are activated whenever the heat index reaches 100 degrees, or when the forecast temperature is 90 degrees or higher. These are: Durham County Public Libraries: All branches (except Bragtown). During regular business hours. Community Safety Department: Located at 101 S. Driver St. Open Monday to Thursday, from 11 am at 4 pm Kothegal added that those who need immediate relief but do not have air conditioning can call NC 2-1-1, a free service to locate cooling centers throughout the state depending on their location. Read also: Receive extreme heat alerts with the North Carolina Heat Health System Experts recommend knowing how to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses. During the summer , especially, authorities recommended knowing how to recognize the symptoms and the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke . Heat illness Symptoms To do? Heat exhaustion Headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, and profuse sweating. People who exhibit these symptoms should be moved to a cool place and given cool water to sip. If symptoms do not improve, they should seek medical attention. Heatstroke Confusion, difficulty speaking (slurring words), loss of consciousness, rapid pulse, and a body temperature above 103 degrees. Call 911 immediately. Then, move the person to a cooler place, loosen their clothing, and begin cooling their entire body with water, ice, or wet towels while waiting for medical assistance. Remember: How to protect our pets from the heat? Other state programs and resources Operation Fan for Heat Relief Until October 31, the NCDHHS will conduct Operation Heat Relief Fan. This provides free ventilators to eligible individuals. Crisis Intervention Program The North Carolina Crisis Intervention Program is accepting applications to help low-income individuals pay their energy bills. You can complete the application for energy assistance programs, available in Spanish on their website. Related: Extreme weather in North Carolina: What measures should be taken? Stay informed: The heat health alert system Locklear mentioned that the NCDHHS Climate and Health Program has a North Carolina Heat Health Alert System, which sends alerts via email when the heat index in your county reaches dangerous levels. "Throughout the summer, from May 1 to September 30, we check the heat index forecast for all 100 counties in the state twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays," Locklear explained. "If any of those counties are expected to reach or exceed the heat index threshold, we issue email alerts about heat and health," he added. To subscribe to this free service to receive alerts, please complete the form on their website . The information is also available in Spanish. This <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org/como-protegerse-del-calor-extremo-este-verano-en-carolina-del-norte/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org">Enlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. 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