On June 3, the Cumberland County Department of Social Services opened a program providing free box fans for eligible citizens. Eligible citizens include, “those who fall below 200% of the current poverty level and who have a family member in the home under the age of 2, over the age of 60, or with a heat-sensitive medical condition.”
The announcement heralded rising temperatures and a corresponding risk of heat-related illnesses that box fans could help stave. According to the Department, the program was enacted to provide relief to eligible citizens who do not have access to air conditioning during the hot summer months.
In 2023, the US Climate Resilience Toolkit found that almost 4,000 individuals in North Carolina visited emergency departments for heat-related illnesses. They believe this highlights an urgent need for heat safety education.
Summer 2024 appears to be on track for similar statistics with multiple July days breaking historic heat records and repeated heat warnings and advisories being issued. Weather.gov defines a heat warning as a heat index at or above 110 degrees and a heat advisory as a heat index between 105 and 109 degrees. Taking precautions against the heat is imperative. While box fans come with a few safety cautions, if used properly, they can provide crucial and life-saving comfort in the soaring temps.
Understanding heat-related illness and safe box fan use go hand in hand. The National Institutes of Health found that box fans may speed dehydration as they do not cool objects, but only move air creating a wind-chill effect that evaporates sweat from skin. This rapid evaporation of sweat combined with high temperatures can be problematic without countermeasures. They suggest countering sweat evaporation by staying hydrated or using simultaneous cooling strategies such as wetting the skin or garments with water. With these measures in place, they suggest that box fans “may yet prove to be an affordable and sustainable strategy for cooling down in a heat wave.”
Weather.gov has issued similar reminders as they publish official heat warnings, noting that heat-related illnesses do not discriminate. “This level of long-duration dangerous heat with little to no overnight relief affects anyone without effective cooling or adequate hydration.”
They recommend drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air-conditioned room, staying out of the sun, and checking on relatives and neighbors.
The process of receiving a free fan includes speaking with a social worker and completing an assessment at the DSS office. If the process is completed in person, citizens can receive their box fan the same day.
For citizens who cannot complete their assessment in person, social workers are available via phone at 910-677-2388 or 910-677-2389. Citizens can also donate fans to the Fan Giveaway Program. Used fans are not accepted. Donations must be new and still inside the box. For donations, call 910-677-2388.
Social Services is located at 1225 Ramsey Street. For more information, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/social-services or call 910-323-1540.