Heat Relief Kits Provide Lifesaving Help

In Maricopa County, Ariz., staying cool during extreme heat is a community-wide effort involving thousands of volunteers.

Through the United for Heat Relief Challenge, supported by Valley of the Sun United Way in partnership with Verizon, more than 5,300 volunteers assembled and distributed 10,250 heat relief kits last year to help those living and working outdoors in the scorching Sonoran Desert sun.

The kits include sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, lip balm, lotion, cooling towels, electrolyte packets, and reusable water bottles.

With the help of volunteers, the effort continues to grow. This summer, the goal is to complete at least 8,400 kits at volunteer events. One recent event included members of the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association (Notre Dame Club of Phoenix) who helped pack 2,000 kits in one day.

"Why did I come to volunteer? Because the cumulative impact is going to make a big difference in the community," a Valley of the Sun United Way volunteer said while assembling kits during the event. 

Valley of the Sun United Way is part of the Maricopa County Heat Relief Network, which offers free water and indoor cooling locations to help residents find a refuge from summer temperatures that can top 115 degrees or higher. 

One of these kits reached a struggling man right when he needed it most one afternoon last summer. 

As soon as he opened the kit, he wrapped the cooling towel around his neck, saying, “This is the first time I’ve felt relief all day."

With electrolytes to replenish what he’d lost, and a water bottle he could refill, he had practical tools to keep moving toward help instead of pushing through and potentially suffering dehydration and heat exhaustion.

As summers grow hotter, Valley of the Sun United Way’s volunteer events building heat-relief kits are an important way to help neighbors and the community beat the summer heat. 

"Heat relief is really important in Arizona specifically", said Grace Bishara, corporate relations manager at Valley of the Sun United Way. "We are all so thankful for our volunteers that come and help pack the heat relief kits that go out to our network." 

Image

Keeping Cool in Summer Heat

The City of Phoenix offers the following tips to stay safe during excessive heat

• When possible, utilize indoor facilities that accommodate physical activity
• Plan outdoor activities for the coolest times of the day
• Limit and reduce duration of outdoor activity
• Take frequent breaks
• Provide drinking water before, during, and after the activity 
• Drink more water than usual. Avoid drinks with sugar, alcohol and caffeine
• Pace physical activity
• Plan for cool-down recovery time in the shade if possible, following an outdoor activity
• Wear light colored clothing, wide-brimmed hats
• If you are outdoors, know the signs of heat exhaustion. Download flyer in English PDF or Spanish PDF.