Summer is upon us, and as we hope for the continuing decline of COVID in Massachusetts and the loosening of physical distancing restrictions, we also need to remember the health effects of the heat that the season will bring.

Last year was tied with 2016 for the hottest summer on record for the Northern Hemisphere. This winter was one of the warmest yet for the contiguous United States, and 2020 is on track to be the hottest year ever. Summer heat, made more common and severe because of climate change, isn’t just uncomfortable. In the U.S., some 12,000 each year die from heatwaves, making heat one of the most deadly natural disasters. The more we study heat, the more we realize that it saps just about everything we care about, including our economy, our minds, and our spirits.

Read on to learn how you can help yourself or a loved one cope with the challenges of summer and COVID combined.

The prospect of a really hot summer on top of a pandemic requires new thinking about how to keep people safe. Getting those at risk from heat, including older people and those with chronic medical problems, to cooling centers on hot summer days isn’t easy under normal circumstances. This summer we have to contend with the reality that those most at risk from heat are also the most at risk from COVID, and may not feel comfortable going to a public center, particularly if it means taking public transit. To innovate around these challenges, many cities have started to partner with community organizations embedded in neighborhoods around the country. These groups, from religious congregations to choirs, have personal ties with individuals who may be at high risk from COVID and heat, which can make all the difference in saving a life when a heatwave arrives. Some cities have a buddy system to encourage people to check up on each other.

Not everyone at risk may have strong social ties. But everybody who reads this will know someone at risk and can learn life-saving interventions to pass on when a heatwave is imminent.

For anybody at risk, and especially folks who may not use or have AC, here are some simple and important ways to stay safe:

• Drink water and not caffeine or alcohol as these can dehydrate you. You know if you are well-hydrated if your urine is light yellow or clear.

• Dress like you are at the beach. Wear loose-fitting clothes.

• Stay on the lowest floor of your home. If the basement is livable, use it.

• Take a cool shower or bath.

Even without AC, actions can be taken to keep temperatures in homes and apartments from going up:

• Cover windows with curtains, shades or whatever works to keep the sun from shining in.

• Eat food that can be eaten cold, so you don’t have to use your oven or range.

• If and when the temperature falls below 70, which in many places happens early in the morning and at night after the sun has gone down, open windows and use a fan to circulate air.

Most important, check up on your neighbors and friends. Call or text first. Knock on a door if you have to—you can do this while still wearing a mask and observing physical distancing guidelines.

Taking steps to prevent heat-related illness and COVID transmission this summer will help ensure that we protect communities of color and the poor, who have been hit hardest by the pandemic. We also can give a reprieve to our nation’s healthcare workforce, which in many places are just starting to recover.

Dr. Anthony Zizza, a geriatrician, and a regional medical director for Landmark Health Care and recommends the following tips to his patients now. (Source: Coverage - BlueCross MA)

• Schedule regular check-in times to stay in touch with friends and loved ones via phone or video. See if family or friends can help you get set up with technology to stay connected.

• Schedule regular phone or video visits to nay connected with your health care provider and manage your conditions. Many insurers, including Blue Cross, are covering these medically necessary telehealth visits with no out-of-pocket costs during the emergency.

• Eat well, according to your health conditions. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and watch your sodium intake. Many people are turning to less healthy convenience foods such as canned goods and frozen meals, Zizza notes; he encourages people to ensure they have access to healthy fresh produce, fish and meat, and to use a home-delivery grocery service if possible.

• Stay mobile. Ziva says he is seeing more patients now with blood clots became they are watching TV much of the day. He encourages seniors to walk up and down their hallway or around their dining room table to get their body moving. Even better is getting outside for some fresh air and sunlight.

• Get plenty of rest and make sure to sleep at night, not during the day.

• Continue your routines, including getting up in the morning and getting washed and dressed.

• Work with your health care provider to stop or reduce smoking if you smoke. If you don't smoke, don't start.

• If you drink, limit your intake to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men; if you don't drink, don't start.

• Attend religious services online or watch them on TV if you can.

• Stay informed but limit your news consumption.

• Make sure you have a three-month supply of your medication and consider signing up for mail-order pharmacy services or prescription home delivery through your local retail pharmacy.

• Limit your exposure to COVID-19 as much as possible by decreasing your time in public, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, and wearing a face covering if you have to go out or interact with health care professionals or others who may have been exposed to the virus.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially when you get home from being outside; avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes. Don't bother to wear gloves when you shop, because they also can get contaminated, Zizza says; instead, bring an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and then wash your hands well afterward; and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces with products known to kill viruses.

• Stay on the lookout for new or concerning symptoms whether COVID-19-related or not; if you notice new symptoms, call your doctor.

Zizza encourages seniors to “stay vigilant” about managing their current conditions and following guidelines to limit their exposure to COVID-19, especially as summer arrives.

The challenges faces by most this year could be some of the most difficult faced during their lifetime. For the elderly, these trying times pose serious health risks. If the challenges of this global pandemic have you in search of help for your loved ones, reach out. We are here to help however we can.