Friday, July 30, 1999
Electric fans aren't much help
Above 90, they just move hot air around
BY TIM BONFIELD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When it comes to coping with serious heat and humidity, health officials say electric fans just aren't much help.
Drinking extra fluids, spending time in air conditioning or taking a cool shower are more effective at preventing heat-related illness and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Although the use of fans may increase comfort at temperatures less than 90 F, they are not protective against heatstroke when temperatures reach greater than or equal to 90 F and humidity is greater than 35 percent,” states a June 11 report from the CDC on heat-related illness.
At lower temperatures, the moving air generated by a fan helps evaporate sweat, thus speeding the body's cooling process. As temperatures get above 90 and start approaching the body's normal internal temperature, moving the hot air around offers no cooling help.
A CDC guide for dealing with “extreme heat” states: “Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device during a heat wave.” That's bad news for people living in apartments and houses with only an electric fan in the window.
Until now, promoting use of fans has been a big part of local efforts to deal with heat waves. Social service agencies regularly ask the public for donated fans to give to needy families. The Cincinnati Health Department includes using electric fans among its standard tips for staying cool, but until now, its tip list hasn't mentioned that fans become useless during 90-degree-plus heat.
So, should people forget about electric fans?
“If people stopped using fans altogether, I think that would be a mistake,” said Cincinnati Health Commissioner Dr. Malcolm Adcock.
Electric fans still have cooling value, Dr. Adcock said. At night, a window fan can be used to blow cooler air into a steamy house. During the day, fans can help blow overheated air out of upper floors.
At high temperatures, blowing a fan directly on yourself might feel good. But it won't help prevent heatstroke.
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