BS Summary: This article contains 8 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Authority, Negativity Bias, and Availability Heuristic, with Indoctrination as the most egregious example at 64.5% saturation with 665 hits. Analysis detected 967 faulty-reasoning hits from 1,031 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 33.3% and a BS Rank of 31% (20,986 of 30,213 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 69.50% of the article peer group.
Summer is supposed to be fun, full of bike rides, outdoor concerts, and lounging on patios till the wee hours.
But summer in 2026 is another story: After dealing with wildfire smoke from Canada and the U.S. last month, D.C. had some of the worst air quality in the country in July ( record-breaking fireworks and the upcoming 250-mile Grand Prix don’t help matters).
You never know where you’re going to be when severe weather happens, and none of us are immune from the impact of heat, smoke, or floods.
So City Paper turned to sources like the Mayo Clinic and looked to the West Coast , which has been enduring wildfire smoke for decades, for ways to cope.
Here are a few tips on how to prepare for the rest of the summer, and, perhaps, the rest of our lives.
As we’re all very much aware, you don’t have to live next to a wildfire to feel the impact of the smoke: It can cause headaches and respiratory issues, chest pain, a racing heartbeat, and burn your eyes and throat, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Older adults, infants, children, and pregnant people are at a higher risk for these kinds of smoke-related symptoms.
PM2.5 —particle pollution from fine particulates— is harmful to humans and other living things , and breathing it increases the risk of heart disease, asthma, and low birth weight.
Here are a few ways to clear the air:
1.
Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.
3.
Consider getting an air purifier .
The best ones for wildfire smoke have HEPA filters that remove 99.97 percent of particles as well as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria.
4.
Can’t afford one?
Make your own DIY air purifier using a box fan and minimum efficiency reporting value 13 filters.
5.
If you have air-conditioning, use filters that have a MERV rating of 13 or higher.
6.
Visit someone who has a house with better air filtration or a cold basement.
7.
Find public spaces if your home is too hot (malls, libraries, grocery stores with seating, etc.).
8.
Keep pets safe by limiting their exposure to bad air and find ways to keep them entertained indoors.
9.
Clean your house after wildfire smoke particles come in.
10.
Eat healthy foods , exercise, and hydrate after breathing a bunch of wildfire smoke to remove the toxins from your body.
But don’t exercise in hazardous air or near busy roadways .
11.
Check Airnow.gov to find out the daily air conditions in your area.
12.
Do very little .
Photo credit: Darrow Montgomery
1.
If you’re lucky enough to have A/C, don’t keep it so low that you have to wear a hoodie, especially during extreme heat.
Ideally set it between 78º to 80ºF (yes, Spain keeps it at 82º in public spaces!).
2.
Cool yourself from the inside out: Drink lots of water, beverages full of ice cubes, and popsicles.
3.
Eat hydrating foods such as watermelon, cucumber, and grapefruit .
4.
Make recipes that don’t require turning on the stove or oven or do your cooking in the morning and reheat later.
5.
Find cooling centers if you can’t manage where you are or hang out in public spaces (movie theaters, libraries, etc) that have endless AC.
6.
Run cold water on your wrists and feet.
Take cold showers.
7.
Find a public pool or spray park .
8.
Do as little physical work as possible.
9.
Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat illness and get medical help if needed.
10.
Avoid alcohol (which turns down your body’s water-saving signal by reducing the release of a hormone called vasopressin) and caffeine .
These, along with high sugar drinks, cause you to lose more body fluid, according to the CDC.
11.
Close the shades during the hottest parts of the day.
12.
Create makeshift air conditioning : Put a bowl of ice or cold water in front of your fan.
13.
Weatherize your home .
14.
Learn how to protect your pets by keeping them indoors, giving them cool mats, ice cube toys, cold treats, wading pools, shorter walks, and cold bandanas (though the cats won’t like that one).
Climate change and global warming mean that glaciers are melting , oceans are warming , and water levels are rising .
Find out if you live in a flood zone ( check your address at FEMA’s Flood Maps page or DC Flood Risk ), and if you live in a basement apartment like so many Washingtonians, learn what to do if your home floods .
1.
Flood-proof your home .
2.
Find out if you can get flood insurance before anything happens.
3.
Think about water management if you have a garden or outdoor space, which redirects water away from the home.
4.
Consider investing in a water alarm, a water vac, or a sump pump.
5.
Unplug appliances during extreme storms to avoid power surges.
6.
Shut off your power if water has already entered your home.
7.
Document any damage for insurance purposes.
Other ways to be ready for the next round of heinous weather include finding a safe space , keeping your documents (lease, insurance policies, passport, etc.) in a waterproof bag and/or on a thumb drive in case something happens to your place, packing a go bag (with snacks, documents, medications, water, clothing), signing up for emergency alerts, and staying up-to-date on air quality, temperatures, and severe weather.
Also, if you can, avoid using large appliances during the hottest part of the day .
If you’re looking to help, consider giving blood , which is especially important during a blood supply crisis , or learning CPR and how to be a community responder in an emergency.
Also taking care of the natural world helps all living things: Plant trees because Urban shade saves lives .
Leave water out for wildlife during brutal heat, and take care of pollinators , birds , and other species.
Lastly, get to know your neighbors and save their contact information so you can check in after major weather events.
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