Oppressive summertime heat claims more lives than all other weather-related disasters combined. Dr. Scott Sheridan, Kent State assistant professor of geography, has studied the effects of urban heat on humans for several years and recommends the following ways to protect against extreme heat:

• Go to a cooler location. If you’re outside, seek the shade; if you’re inside, go to your basement.

• Lower your physical activity.

• Hydrate yourself with plenty of fluids.

• Check up on any elderly neighbors. They are a much more vulnerable than the general population because as people age, their ability to accurately perceive heat lessens.

• If you’re running a fan and don’t have an air conditioner, open a window for ventilation.

• Don’t sit directly in front of a fan. By doing so, you lose more water, because the air causes perspiration to evaporate more quickly. The idea is to cool the room, not you directly.

Sheridan can be reached at 330-672-3224 or ssherid1@kent.edu.