Staying Safe in Extreme Heat

Baltimore is in the midst of its first heat wave of 2025. With temperatures topping 100 degrees, what can you do to stay safe?

KNOW WHAT TO DO DURING A CODE RED

• The Mayor's Office of Homeless Services issues a "Code Red" when temperatures reach unsafe levels
• Check Code Red status online or call 311 to see if Baltimore City is opening additional cooling centers (see the Baltimore City Health Department guide)
• Check out the map of cooling centers open on Code Red days, plus hours and locations for all Baltimore City libraries and Baltimore County libraries

Help in the moment

• Keep water, electrolyte drinks and snacks on hand to offer to neighbors with no shelter from the heat
• If you have A/C and know of friends or neighbors that don’t, consider inviting them inside for a cool-down chat
• Check on older neighbors during heat waves

Make and share street survival kits

• Tailor street survival kits to the season by including water bottles, sunscreen, hats, light-weight clothing and sunglasses
• Check out our list of suggested items and how to donate

Stay safe AND BEAT THE HEAT

• Know the signs of heat stroke: confusion, dizziness or no longer sweating while feeling hot? Call 911
• Wet a washcloth for the back of your neck, or run cold water over pulse points on your wrists to quickly cool down
• Baltimore City’s public pools can offer relief from the heat. Here's the list of hours and locations.

Did you know? Factors like discriminatory housing, less tree cover and a lack of central air mean that temperatures in West and East Baltimore are up to 15 degrees hotter on average than in wealthier parts of the city. In addition, people experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and death.

Read up on the ways environmental racism and inequality contribute to urban heat crises. Check out our Community of Practice on Homelessness conversation about race and the built environment.