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Nyob Zoo Ramsey County: Tham Txog Extreme Heat

Ramsey CountyMonday, July 21, 2025

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[1:03] [Foreign Language] [1:29] So thank you so much, [1:30] Karma, for being here today. [1:32] Thank you so much for the invitation. [1:35] So before we start, I'd like you to [1:36] introduce yourself a little bit and what [1:38] you do here at Ramsey County. [1:46] So, as you mentioned, my name is Karma. [1:48] So I'm an emergency management [1:49] coordinator with Ramsey County Emergency [1:51] Management and Homeland Security. [1:53] And what we do is we help our communities [1:56] prepare for, respond to [1:58] and recover from disasters. [2:00] And, you know, we help everybody, [2:03] regardless of their personal situation, [2:05] make sure that they can get through these [2:07] difficult times together. [2:10] [Foreign Language] [2:24] In particular, I'm also a matter expert for our natural hazards, [2:29] which include not only [2:30] summer storms, but extreme heat. [2:32] And I also work on making sure that we [2:35] are responding to the needs of people who [2:38] are affected by disaster. [2:41] [Foreign Language] [2:55] Thank you so much again for being here. [2:58] Today's conversation [2:58] is about extreme heat. [3:01] What is extreme heat? [3:02] And why is it dangerous [3:03] for us here in Minnesota? [3:06] [Foreign Language] [3:16] So extreme heat is any time that we have [3:19] temperatures that are way above normal. [3:22] In Minnesota, that normally starts at [3:25] about 95 degrees of either air [3:27] temperature or heat index, [3:29] but it's particularly dangerous when we [3:31] get temperatures above 105 degrees. [3:34] That's when the National Weather Service, [3:37] which is our nationwide office that does [3:41] weather forecasting and warnings, [3:45] will issue an extreme heat warning. [3:48] [Foreign Language] [4:18] In Minnesota, we might not normally think [4:21] about extreme heat as being a concern, [4:23] but we are seeing our [4:24] summers getting hotter and hotter. [4:27] And unfortunately, extreme heat is [4:29] actually the deadliest form [4:31] of weather in our country, [4:34] more deadly than tornadoes and flooding. [4:39] [Foreign Language] [5:00] It can cause some very [5:01] serious and even deadly illnesses [5:03] and is particularly concerning for our [5:06] elders, our young children, [5:09] people with certain medical conditions, [5:11] and who don't have adequate air [5:14] conditioning at home. [5:16] [Foreign Language] [5:33] So, we can get more to who is most [5:37] affected or at risk. [5:39] Before we get to that, I would like to [5:41] just know how do families [5:42] prepare for heat at home. [5:45] And so, what kind of precautions can we [5:47] take into consideration? [5:50] [Foreign Language] [5:59] So, one of the things that we recommend [6:00] is that people check their home air [6:02] conditioner every year. [6:03] Make sure it's working [6:04] properly and has been cleaned. [6:07] And also, additional things you can do, [6:12] closing blinds or drapes on, [6:17] especially on the side where the sun [6:18] comes in, to help keep it cooler inside. [6:22] And you can do things like putting [6:24] washcloths that are wet [6:26] into your refrigerator [6:28] and then you can take those out and use [6:29] them to cool yourself down as well. [6:31] Those are great preparedness steps. [6:35] [Foreign Language] [7:06] and then being ready for [7:08] what might happen if your air [7:09] conditioner or your power goes out is [7:12] also very important but one [7:14] of the things you want to do [7:14] is make sure that you do not open your [7:17] refrigerator or freezers keep [7:18] them closed uh to help keep the [7:21] the cool air inside and keep your food [7:23] fresh longer you should also have an idea [7:26] of where you would go [7:28] if it's getting too hot in your house, [7:30] or you can go to cool off for the day. [7:36] [Foreign Language] [7:58] If you have medication that has to stay [8:01] cool or you have a [8:02] medical device that needs power, [8:04] make sure that you talk to your doctor or [8:06] pharmacist about how to deal with [8:09] potential power outages. [8:11] And if you consider using a generator, [8:14] make sure that you are [8:15] setting it up properly, [8:16] that it is outside your house because of [8:19] the concern about carbon [8:20] monoxide gas that it creates. [8:23] [Foreign Language] [8:40] So Karma, what should people do if there [8:42] is a heat emergency? [8:46] [Foreign Language] [8:53] So if there is a heat emergency, my [8:56] office works with our partners in the [8:59] city and community-based organizations [9:02] to coordinate any kind of [9:04] response that might be needed. [9:06] But the best way to find out information [9:08] about what services are being offered and [9:11] places that you can go to cool off [9:13] is to visit our Ramsey County website as [9:16] well as the National [9:18] Weather Service's website, [9:20] which for the Twin Cities Office of the [9:23] National Weather Service will have the [9:24] best local information. [9:26] That's weather.gov backslash mpx. [9:30] There you can go to find warnings as well [9:33] as such as our website, lists [9:36] of places to go to cool off. [9:38] So the website for the National Weather [9:41] Service's Twin Cities Office is [9:43] weather.gov backslash mpx. [9:47] They will have information about the [9:49] latest warnings and conditions, [9:51] and along with our website, lists of [9:53] places that you can go to cool off. [9:57] [Foreign Language] [10:39] and we also recommend [10:41] that you have a plan [10:42] that you discuss with [10:44] your family and friends [10:45] about options, about [10:47] where you can go to stay cool. [10:49] If a best way for you to [10:52] help check on your family and [10:55] neighbors to make sure [10:57] that they're doing okay [10:58] and what you're going to do to help your [11:00] pets during this extreme heat. [11:04] [Foreign Language] [11:25] So who is at risk during extreme heat? [11:28] So I know we talked a [11:29] little bit about that, [11:30] but I think we'd like to [11:31] just learn a little bit more. [11:34] [Foreign Language] [11:42] So under certain [11:45] conditions, everyone is at risk. [11:47] But there are some people [11:49] who have a greater risk, [11:51] even when it's not as hot as what may be [11:54] affecting someone who is healthy. [11:56] And that includes our [11:57] elders and young children, [12:00] people with certain medical conditions, [12:02] such as diabetes, [12:05] breathing issues, heart problems, [12:07] and then people with disabilities. [12:14] [Foreign Language] [12:34] Also people who do [12:36] strenuous activities outside, [12:38] particularly in the sun, such as working [12:41] in landscaping or [12:42] farming or doing sports. [12:45] We'll also see concerns about people who [12:47] take certain medications [12:49] that make them unable to [12:50] handle the heat as well. [12:53] [Foreign Language] [13:10] So also of concern are pregnant women and [13:14] people who live alone [13:15] or don't have adequate air [13:17] conditioning in their homes. [13:20] [Foreign Language] [13:35] Thank you for that clarification. [13:37] So we're talking about the differences [13:39] between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. [13:42] I think it would be good for us to kind [13:44] of just understand what [13:45] those symptoms look like [13:46] and what can someone [13:47] do in those situations. [13:50] [Foreign Language] [14:11] So anytime that we start to get too hot, [14:14] we get something called heat illnesses. [14:17] And the two most serious of those are [14:19] heat exhaustion and heat [14:21] illness, as you mentioned. [14:22] So for heat exhaustion, people will start [14:26] to show signs of dizziness, some muscle [14:31] cramps, headaches, heavy sweating, [14:34] and their skin may be [14:36] clammy to the touch. [14:38] [Foreign Language] [15:14] And when someone is [15:15] starting to show those symptoms, [15:16] we want to start treating them right away [15:19] so things don't get worse. [15:20] Remove them to a cool, [15:22] shady or indoor location. [15:24] You can use cloths or water to [15:27] begin help cooling them down. [15:29] You don't want to do it too quickly. [15:32] So cool water rather than cold or ice. [15:35] Have them drink and rehydrate. [15:39] Whether it's water or an electrolyte [15:42] drink like Pedialyte, Powerade or [15:45] Gatorade are also good. [15:48] And then if they continue to get worse, [15:50] we want to call 911. [15:53] [Foreign Language] [16:51] So even more serious than heat exhaustion [16:54] is heat stroke, which [16:56] is a medical emergency. [16:57] You'll see some symptoms that are similar [17:00] to heat exhaustion, such as headache, [17:03] nausea, vomiting, dizziness. [17:06] But the person may [17:07] also lose consciousness. [17:09] They may have seizures. [17:11] You may see in some cases they'll [17:13] actually stop sweating. [17:15] They may be very confused or acting very [17:19] strangely for them and not able to [17:22] maintain their balance. [17:25] [Foreign Language] [18:05] So, because it is so deadly [18:08] You'll want to call 911 right away [18:10] while you begin helping the person [18:14] [Foreign Language] [18:23] Begin cooling the person down [18:25] right away using cool [18:27] water or cloths or ice pack. [18:30] Particularly you want to put them places [18:32] that are going to be on [18:34] their skin and able to get [18:36] cooling of the blood such as [18:38] your neck, armpits, groin etc. [18:44] [Foreign Language] [19:04] So you can put them in a shower or bath [19:08] as well but someone will need to stay and [19:10] monitor them, make sure that they don't [19:12] stop breathing, lose consciousness or [19:15] begin to have seizures. [19:17] [Foreign Language] [19:29] And because of that you also may not be able [19:31] to give them something to drink. [19:34] [Foreign Language] [19:39] Especially when we see young children etc. [19:42] Another sign you may want to look for, [19:44] because they can't always tell you how [19:46] they're doing, is [19:47] they may stop urinating. [19:50] [Foreign Language] [20:02] [Foreign Language] [20:11] So one of the things that we want to make [20:13] sure that we do is drink extra water. [20:17] Staying hydrated is important [20:18] to keep away heat illnesses. [20:22] Stay in cool locations, [20:24] whether it's in the shade [20:25] or going to a place [20:26] that's air-conditioned [20:28] or has water that you can cool off in, [20:32] public or community center. [20:35] Also, make sure that [20:36] you're checking on your family [20:37] and neighbors to make [20:39] sure that they're doing okay. [20:42] [Foreign Language] [21:08] So where can people get more information [21:10] or help during a heat wave? [21:12] They just want to learn more [21:13] about what we talked about today. [21:15] [Foreign Language] [21:21] We do translated messages in Hmong [21:24] that include safety tips [21:25] and warning information. [21:28] You can also visit our website, [21:31] our ramsaycounty.us extreme heat website. [21:36] That includes information on places [21:38] that you can go to stay cool [21:40] anytime that it gets too hot out. [21:43] Thank you. [21:44] [Foreign Language] [22:16] So remember to [22:17] stay cool, stay hydrated [22:20] and stay informed. [22:22] [Foreign Language] [22:33] Thank you so much Karma [22:34] for educating us and sharing [22:36] all of this [22:37] information with our community. [22:39] Thank you Sonja for being here. [22:41] [Foreign Language] [22:49] Thank you, I'm very grateful for the opportunity. [22:53] [Foreign Language]