As the heat wave returns  to punish regions, there are several attendent issues to consider. The first is easy: what are you doing to keep your cool out there? Email or comment, and share your know-how with everybody.

Second, the demand for power goes sky-high and power providers warn that various troubles ensue  if people don't consume wisely. This is a topic we've discussed before, and it really comes down to intelligent choices : turn off everything you're not using and try to keep what you are using on an energy savings setting.

Third, the effects of the environment vary with your health. This radical heat might be the spur to start eating better —a healthy diet makes you more durable and less vulnerable.

Finally, there's the preparedness angle —which, we righteously declare, solves all these problems in advance. Well, maybe not totally. But taking action in advance has to help: it puts you in charge of events, makes you feel less vulnerable and more dialed in to events as they begin. When you act you're not stuck REacting.