As North Carolina braces for another summer of intense heat, a Duke University expert is urging residents to take steps to stay cool and watch for signs of heat-related illness.

Dr. Anjni Joiner, associate professor of emergency medicine at the university, said people without air conditioning should try to keep their homes as cool as possible by shutting blinds, running fans and even putting towels in the freezer to use later. If people are unable to cool themselves adequately at home, Joiner suggested they should find another place to escape the heat.

“If you’re not able to cool yourself indoors, then you really need to look to go somewhere else, whether it’s a grocery store, movie theater,” Joiner outlined. “Many communities have cooling centers. In Durham County, in particular, most of the libraries serve as cooling centers during the daytime hours.”

Common signs of heat-related illness include heavy sweating, intense thirst, dizziness, headaches and nausea. People experiencing a more serious medical emergency, such as heat stroke, often have confusion or slurred speech. In 2025, North Carolina saw a large increase in heat-related emergency room visits, with more than 5,700 over the summer, up from nearly 4,700 visits in 2024.

Joiner said heat-related illnesses are not always diagnosed as heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Sometimes, extreme heat can contribute to other medical problems.

“Maybe they were feeling really hot. They slipped, fell and passed out,” Joiner observed. “Now, they have an injury as a result of dehydration because they weren’t drinking enough throughout the day in hot weather. There are some other impacts of heat-related injuries that you don’t necessarily think of.”

Outdoor workers, older adults, infants, children, low-income residents and pregnant people are more likely to experience heat-related illness. People looking for a cooling center near them can call 211.

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