This thread talks about how disabled people are especially vulnerable during extreme heat and emergencies. The author faced a heat crisis in a hot building, with no quick way out or backup plan, showing how few options many disabled folks have. It highlights the need for community support, better safety plans, and understanding that climate change and inequality put the most vulnerable at greater risk.
When you’re disabled - you’re the canary in the coal mine for many things. We get hit harder & faster by things that non disabled people might find find easier to handle.
A recent emergency left me shaken by the realization of how few options I (and many others) have /1 🧵
We’re in a severe multi day heatwave where I live - with no relief even at night. I’m in a high rise apartment on an upper floor surrounded by glass buildings. There’s no shade or relief from the sun. Even with AC - these units get hot. /2
You’re lucky to maintain a daytime temp of 23 degrees with AC running full blast. If it’s not working or turned off - the apartment becomes dangerously hot very quickly.
Around dinner time - the AC broke for the entire building. /3
If it were just my unit - it would be slightly more manageable as there would be cool air around me. Since it was the entire building - temps rose extremely fast. Within 4 hours my unit was 30 degrees and climbing a degree an hour (even with fans and ice). /4
My heart condition, low blood pressure and MCAS make the heat dangerous for me. I faint far more often in hot and humid temperatures & when you live alone you risk hitting your head or injuring yourself and being unable to get help. /5
Naturally I was concerned. We had no ETA for when it would be fixed - and the next day was forecasted to be even hotter.
Then I realized that most of my neighbours were simply leaving. Going to a movie, out for dinner or to the mall. They were able to escape the heat. /6
It was in that moment that I realized how precarious my situation was. I’m housebound and unable to leave without assistance. I don’t drive. I’m immune compromised and can’t hang out indefinitely in public spaces because no one takes precautions. /7
The only option for me would be to go to the hospital - which ironically would probably be LESS safe than a mall or movie theatre given our current wave.
I felt unbelievably and hopelessly trapped - and that feeling was arguably worse than the heat. /8
I’m not the only one who’s found themselves in these kinds of situations - in fact I have a few elderly neighbours who were concerned for the same reasons (and also unable to leave).
But these issues are rarely discussed. /9
It’s often those of us with the fewest options who end up in the most danger. If I lived in a house - I could call an emergency repair person. I could go into the basement. The temperature wouldn’t climb as fast. If I weren’t housebound - I could leave until things improved /10
Getting a window AC wasn’t an option as they’re banned in the building - and even if it was allowed - how would I get it when I’m unable to leave the house?
All I could do was stay laying down with cold water and ice and hope that it was fixed before I lost consciousness. /11
What worries me the most about this situation is the realization that I’m not alone in my fear. That I’m fortunate to even HAVE AC as there’s many people who can’t afford the privilege. There’s others who are homeless & can’t ever escape the heat. /12
Climate change is bringing with it higher temps and more severe weather - and just like with healthcare - the least privileged among us will suffer the most. The wealthy will be able to protect themselves more easily - the rest of us will suffer /13
I don’t have the answers but I will be spending a lot of time thinking about a safety plan going forward…. As well as noodling how we can protect those in the community who are at the highest risk of harm from heat events. /14
Between the pandemic & the climate - it’s a terrifying time to be disabled. Being chronically ill makes everything harder. Handling sudden emergencies, dealing with stress … these things are much more difficult when you don’t have your health. /15
I ask that people spare a thought for all those who may be trapped in an unsafe situation tonight (and every night). If you know someone who is - reach out to them and ask if you can help. Check in on them to see if they’re ok. /16
Donate to mutual aid to help people be able to afford portable ACs, fans or safer housing. Give to homeless shelters and cooling centres in your community. Help where and when you can and be grateful that you’re not in a dangerous situation. /17
Above all else - remember that most people are one bad roll of the dice away from a similar fate. You can become disabled or homeless at any time - it’s no one’s fault. Less blame & more advocacy and compassion. We need solutions to protect people in our communities. /18
I’m relieved to say the AC was fixed relatively quickly and temps are slowly decreasing - but not everyone would have been that lucky. And I’m embarrassed to say it took this happening to realize I have no safety plan. No contingencies or easy outs. /19
I hope my post will inspire others to look at whether they may need a safety plan of their own - as well as to hold space for disabled & marginalized people in dangerous situations. Let’s help each other so we can all be safer. /end
When you’re disabled - you’re the canary in the coal mine for many things. We get hit harder & faster by things that non disabled people might find find easier to handle.
A recent emergency left me shaken by the realization of how few options I (and many others) have /1 🧵We’re in a severe multi day heatwave where I live - with no relief even at night. I’m in a high rise apartment on an upper floor surrounded by glass buildings. There’s no shade or relief from the sun. Even with AC - these units get hot. /2You’re lucky to maintain a daytime temp of 23 degrees with AC running full blast. If it’s not working or turned off - the apartment becomes dangerously hot very quickly.
Around dinner time - the AC broke for the entire building. /3If it were just my unit - it would be slightly more manageable as there would be cool air around me. Since it was the entire building - temps rose extremely fast. Within 4 hours my unit was 30 degrees and climbing a degree an hour (even with fans and ice). /4My heart condition, low blood pressure and MCAS make the heat dangerous for me. I faint far more often in hot and humid temperatures & when you live alone you risk hitting your head or injuring yourself and being unable to get help. /5Naturally I was concerned. We had no ETA for when it would be fixed - and the next day was forecasted to be even hotter.
Then I realized that most of my neighbours were simply leaving. Going to a movie, out for dinner or to the mall. They were able to escape the heat. /6It was in that moment that I realized how precarious my situation was. I’m housebound and unable to leave without assistance. I don’t drive. I’m immune compromised and can’t hang out indefinitely in public spaces because no one takes precautions. /7The only option for me would be to go to the hospital - which ironically would probably be LESS safe than a mall or movie theatre given our current wave.
I felt unbelievably and hopelessly trapped - and that feeling was arguably worse than the heat. /8I’m not the only one who’s found themselves in these kinds of situations - in fact I have a few elderly neighbours who were concerned for the same reasons (and also unable to leave).
But these issues are rarely discussed. /9It’s often those of us with the fewest options who end up in the most danger. If I lived in a house - I could call an emergency repair person. I could go into the basement. The temperature wouldn’t climb as fast. If I weren’t housebound - I could leave until things improved /10Getting a window AC wasn’t an option as they’re banned in the building - and even if it was allowed - how would I get it when I’m unable to leave the house?
All I could do was stay laying down with cold water and ice and hope that it was fixed before I lost consciousness. /11What worries me the most about this situation is the realization that I’m not alone in my fear. That I’m fortunate to even HAVE AC as there’s many people who can’t afford the privilege. There’s others who are homeless & can’t ever escape the heat. /12Climate change is bringing with it higher temps and more severe weather - and just like with healthcare - the least privileged among us will suffer the most. The wealthy will be able to protect themselves more easily - the rest of us will suffer /13I don’t have the answers but I will be spending a lot of time thinking about a safety plan going forward…. As well as noodling how we can protect those in the community who are at the highest risk of harm from heat events. /14Between the pandemic & the climate - it’s a terrifying time to be disabled. Being chronically ill makes everything harder. Handling sudden emergencies, dealing with stress … these things are much more difficult when you don’t have your health. /15I ask that people spare a thought for all those who may be trapped in an unsafe situation tonight (and every night). If you know someone who is - reach out to them and ask if you can help. Check in on them to see if they’re ok. /16Donate to mutual aid to help people be able to afford portable ACs, fans or safer housing. Give to homeless shelters and cooling centres in your community. Help where and when you can and be grateful that you’re not in a dangerous situation. /17Above all else - remember that most people are one bad roll of the dice away from a similar fate. You can become disabled or homeless at any time - it’s no one’s fault. Less blame & more advocacy and compassion. We need solutions to protect people in our communities. /18I’m relieved to say the AC was fixed relatively quickly and temps are slowly decreasing - but not everyone would have been that lucky. And I’m embarrassed to say it took this happening to realize I have no safety plan. No contingencies or easy outs. /19I hope my post will inspire others to look at whether they may need a safety plan of their own - as well as to hold space for disabled & marginalized people in dangerous situations. Let’s help each other so we can all be safer. /end
When you’re disabled - you’re the canary in the coal mine for many things. We get hit harder & faster by things that non disabled people might find find easier to handle.
A recent emergency left me shaken by the realization of how few options I (and many others) have /1 🧵 ... We’re in a severe multi day heatwave where I live - with no relief even at night. I’m in a high rise apartment on an upper floor surrounded by glass buildings. There’s no shade or relief from the sun. Even with AC - these units get hot. /2 ... You’re lucky to maintain a daytime temp of 23 degrees with AC running full blast. If it’s not working or turned off - the apartment becomes dangerously hot very quickly.
Around dinner time - the AC broke for the entire building. /3 ... If it were just my unit - it would be slightly more manageable as there would be cool air around me. Since it was the entire building - temps rose extremely fast. Within 4 hours my unit was 30 degrees and climbing a degree an hour (even with fans and ice). /4 ... My heart condition, low blood pressure and MCAS make the heat dangerous for me. I faint far more often in hot and humid temperatures & when you live alone you risk hitting your head or injuring yourself and being unable to get help. /5 ... Naturally I was concerned. We had no ETA for when it would be fixed - and the next day was forecasted to be even hotter.
Then I realized that most of my neighbours were simply leaving. Going to a movie, out for dinner or to the mall. They were able to escape the heat. /6 ... It was in that moment that I realized how precarious my situation was. I’m housebound and unable to leave without assistance. I don’t drive. I’m immune compromised and can’t hang out indefinitely in public spaces because no one takes precautions. /7 ... The only option for me would be to go to the hospital - which ironically would probably be LESS safe than a mall or movie theatre given our current wave.
I felt unbelievably and hopelessly trapped - and that feeling was arguably worse than the heat. /8 ... I’m not the only one who’s found themselves in these kinds of situations - in fact I have a few elderly neighbours who were concerned for the same reasons (and also unable to leave).
But these issues are rarely discussed. /9 ... It’s often those of us with the fewest options who end up in the most danger. If I lived in a house - I could call an emergency repair person. I could go into the basement. The temperature wouldn’t climb as fast. If I weren’t housebound - I could leave until things improved /10 ... Getting a window AC wasn’t an option as they’re banned in the building - and even if it was allowed - how would I get it when I’m unable to leave the house?
All I could do was stay laying down with cold water and ice and hope that it was fixed before I lost consciousness. /11 ... What worries me the most about this situation is the realization that I’m not alone in my fear. That I’m fortunate to even HAVE AC as there’s many people who can’t afford the privilege. There’s others who are homeless & can’t ever escape the heat. /12 ... Climate change is bringing with it higher temps and more severe weather - and just like with healthcare - the least privileged among us will suffer the most. The wealthy will be able to protect themselves more easily - the rest of us will suffer /13 ... I don’t have the answers but I will be spending a lot of time thinking about a safety plan going forward…. As well as noodling how we can protect those in the community who are at the highest risk of harm from heat events. /14 ... Between the pandemic & the climate - it’s a terrifying time to be disabled. Being chronically ill makes everything harder. Handling sudden emergencies, dealing with stress … these things are much more difficult when you don’t have your health. /15 ... I ask that people spare a thought for all those who may be trapped in an unsafe situation tonight (and every night). If you know someone who is - reach out to them and ask if you can help. Check in on them to see if they’re ok. /16 ... Donate to mutual aid to help people be able to afford portable ACs, fans or safer housing. Give to homeless shelters and cooling centres in your community. Help where and when you can and be grateful that you’re not in a dangerous situation. /17 ... Above all else - remember that most people are one bad roll of the dice away from a similar fate. You can become disabled or homeless at any time - it’s no one’s fault. Less blame & more advocacy and compassion. We need solutions to protect people in our communities. /18 ... I’m relieved to say the AC was fixed relatively quickly and temps are slowly decreasing - but not everyone would have been that lucky. And I’m embarrassed to say it took this happening to realize I have no safety plan. No contingencies or easy outs. /19 ... I hope my post will inspire others to look at whether they may need a safety plan of their own - as well as to hold space for disabled & marginalized people in dangerous situations. Let’s help each other so we can all be safer. /end
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