Back East where it's been broiling, relief is finally on the horizon .

The blistering summer punished the whole world—see this  and this . (Post your heat wave story today and help your neighbors around the world. It's what makes blogging important!) What really makes the story human, more than just sensational, is the number of deaths that heat claims. Older people are particularly vulnerable—not just because of various health conditions, but also because of their independence. They might not be inclined to reach out for help.

Many cities have developed services  to help their denizens negotiate the long, hot summer . Chicago Housing Authority staff visit and telephone people to keep tabs, while Philadelphia sends out "Home-Visit Field Teams" and maintains a "Heatline" for people at risk.

Looking around the web, virtually ALL prevention sites have the same instructions:

"Check regularly on infants and young children, people aged 65 or older, and mentally or physically ill people. Visit people at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke."