MICHEL MARTIN, BYLINE: The East Coast and the Midwest are baking due to a major heat wave this week. In Florida, Miami-Dade County has appointed a chief heat officer to tackle some of the challenges posed by heat and humidity in that area. Her name is Jane Gilbert, and she's with us now to tell us how she's helping residents this week and planning for the rest of the summer. Hello.
JANE GILBERT: Hi, Michel.
MARTIN: You know, Miami - the Miami metropolitan area is among the top 10 largest in the United States. Are there some unique challenges to kind of managing heat in an urban setting in general and in Miami, in particular - at least, you know, compared to parts of the country that aren't as dense?
GILBERT: I think some of the thing is that we're getting hotter in cities not only because of climate change, but how we develop - more asphalt, less green space, less trees, more waste heat from buildings and cars. All of this contributes to our urban environments being up to 10 degrees hotter than the surrounding rural areas.
In addition, many cities have many people who are unhoused that need to have specific outreach. I know Phoenix has had significant challenges. Luckily, in Miami-Dade, our numbers are lower, but it's still a very exposed population. Then finally, we have a huge number of construction workers. We have people walking and waiting at bus stops. All of these are places where people are more exposed to heat and, unfortunately, with less tree canopy in particularly our lower-income areas.
MARTIN: What are some of the things you can do as the chief heat officer?
GILBERT: Sure. So we have a plan that has three main goal areas. One is to inform and prepare people. The second is to help people stay cool at home affordably. The third is to cool neighborhoods through intense tree planting and preservation efforts, through new urban design to look at cool pavements, cool building materials, and how we orient and design our buildings so that our urban environment is lower temperature.
MARTIN: I understand that the foundation that helps support the work believes that, although there are others like it now, this was the first position like this in the world. You've been in this position for three years. In the three years that you've been in this position, has it gotten more serious?
GILBERT: Well, first, last summer was the hottest summer on record. We had 50 days over heat index of 105. That was unprecedented. Second, I think the general public awareness about the dangers of extreme heat in this country and really globally has risen dramatically, in part because of rising temperatures, in part because there's been a concerted effort to really point out this silent killer. And it's not just heat exhaustion and heat stroke we're worrying about. It is heart attacks triggered by heat. It is a stroke. It is pediatric asthma. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke is just the tip of the iceberg of impacts.
MARTIN: Let's talk about the right now and trust that you're working on the future. For right now, it's hot. And it's not just hot in Miami, although I understand that it's actually cooler in Miami, oddly, than it is in other parts of the country. What should people do if they have to be outdoors?
GILBERT: They have to be outdoors, they need to make sure that they have water with them, that they hydrate more than they think they need to. Every hour, drink as much water as you can. If you're exerting a lot of energy, replenish every third or fourth drink with electrolytes. Water is often not enough if you're exerting a lot of energy. Then take breaks. It's kind of like HIIT training. You take a break and then you get back out there, your performance is going to be better.
MARTIN: If you notice someone experiencing symptoms of dehydration, what should you do?
GILBERT: First, if they're not nauseous and they are conscious, you should get them water as soon as possible and get them to a cool space. Cool their body down with putting water on so it can evaporate, a fan - any way to cool the body down. If they feel nauseous or are unconscious, do not give them drinks. I would call 911 and get that body cool as soon as you can.
MARTIN: That is Jane Gilbert. She's chief heat officer of Miami-Dade County. Jane Gilbert, something tells me we'll be talking again. So thank you so much for talking with us today.
GILBERT: My pleasure. Stay cool.
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