|
|
Summer is in full gear, and even though Labor Day is right around the corner, a break in the heat cannot come fast enough for many of us. In addition to being unpleasant, the relentless heat can create health and safety problems for people, pets, and even vehicles and public infrastructure. In this month’s newsletter, we provide insight into how to recognize heatstroke and what to do about it. | |
|
On August 28, 2024, Homes on Wheels Alliance turns six years old. In our first six years, the organization and community did a great job of incorporating, organizing, hiring staff, electing board members, learning to fundraise, and developing nomad community-specific programming and support services. In just six short years, HOWA has grown into an organization with a very solid foundation and a level of grassroots community support that many large, well-established organizations would be proud to have.
HOWA’s programming has also evolved. Starting with the type of commonsense support those in the nomad community most need, such as facilitating the receipt and distribution of vehicles to those without the means to purchase a vehicle and other activities such as the BYOV, Bring Your Own Vehicle, program where the organization coordinated both materials and volunteers to make vehicles more nomad friendly with sleeping platforms and solar power systems. Unfortunately, both of these programs have been placed on permanent hiatus due to the rising costs of insurance. HOWA has been intensively seeking an affordable insurance provider willing to cover these programs to no avail. Not only are insurance premiums beyond the reach of organizations such as HOWA, but most insurance companies are not even open to discussing our programmatic goals and how we can achieve them. You have probably also felt the same market effects in the same way your vehicle insurance has risen dramatically in the past several years.
While HOWA continues to seek affordable insurance and even organizational restructuring to reinstate our previous programs, we are also investigating new types of programs that address the direct needs of our community. The good news is that our existing programs are healthy and available. For the first time, the dates of the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous have been scheduled well in advance so you can plan your winter travels around the event. Our Virtual Caravan program maintains five meetings per week designed to meet both your schedule and gender needs. We are in the process of developing at least one in-person Caravan for October (more to come), and we are intensively engaged in redeveloping our eFund, tent distribution, and compassion grant programs to make the process more transparent and efficient for both the applicant and HOWA staff.
Finally, there was a typo in my email address in the July newsletter, and I want to ensure that every member of this community knows you can reach out directly to me. I strive to respond to every message depending upon the volume of communications received and the topic of the message itself, but I assure you that I read every message. The best way to reach me or anyone else at HOWA is to submit an online message that will be directed to the appropriate person or group. Please click here to submit a message, and feel free to reach out to us at any time. Thank you for being a member of the HOWA community.
J.D. McCrary
Executive Director
| |
Making it safely through the summer months in North America requires some pre-planning in both equipment and location. The best way nomads (and perhaps one of the greatest perks of being a nomad) can avoid the heat is to climb latitude and, most importantly, elevation. Constant heat without respite is not only uncomfortable and unpleasant but can also be dangerous. | |
|
|
Heatstroke killed 1,670 nationwide in the U.S. during the summer of 2022 and was, at the time, the highest number of heat-related deaths ever recorded. In 2023 that number increased to over 2,300, and in 2024, we are on pace for another record-breaking year. It's important to note that these figures likely underestimate the true impact of heat on mortality. Heat-related illness is often underdiagnosed, and studies have shown that the actual number of excess deaths during heat waves can be much higher than the official count. Those most at risk include the elderly, those with limited resources, and those experiencing homelessness.
Getting out of the heat is no longer a luxury for those who have air conditioning and can afford to run it constantly. It must be considered a part of basic human health and should be provided to everyone. The most dangerous form of heat-related illness is heatstroke, which is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body overheats, typically as a result of prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperatures.
- High body temperature (104°F or higher)
- Altered mental state or behavior (confusion, agitation, slurred speech)
- Alteration in sweating (hot, dry skin in classic heatstroke; slightly moist skin in exertional heatstroke)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Flushed skin
- Rapid breathing and heart rate
- Headache
If you, or someone near you, are experiencing any of these symptoms, get them to a cool location as soon as possible, even if that means calling 911 or taking them to the hospital yourself. Heatstroke is a medical emergency requiring immediate cooling of the body and professional medical attention. Do not tough it out or not take action when you or those around you start to overheat. You would jump into action when someone is choking or when someone is floating face down in the pool, and you should not ignore the symptoms of heatstroke.
Additionally, check in with your neighbors on those hot days when you have not seen any movement around their rig. We would rather you wake someone up from their nap rather than assume they are OK while parked in the sun. It is the responsibility of members of this community to care for one another, and we want each of you to be proactive in caring for others and open to receiving care from others. We are all in this together.
| |
HOWA Seeking Vehicle Donations | | |
|
We regularly receive both offers to donate a vehicle to the organization and requests by those who cannot afford a vehicle to receive a donated vehicle. Despite HOWA’s current inability to receive and distribute donated vehicles (see the insurance discussion in From the Director above) we do have a partnership with Car Easy. Car Easy is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist other nonprofits by picking up and selling donated vehicles. If you donate a vehicle through Car Easy and identify Homes on Wheels Alliance as the recipient, we will receive a cash donation once the vehicle is processed. | |
- No cost to the donor, and your vehicle will get picked up and hauled away for free.
- You will need a current and clear title. The bank must clear and/or release any lien holder listed on the title. This law varies by state.
- All types of donated vehicles (running or not) are accepted, including cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RVs, motorcycles, campers, off-road vehicles, planes, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and most other motorized vehicles.
If you have a vehicle you wish to donate, please click here to begin the process.
| | | | |
