Heat wave kit
Staying cool and drinking enough through a run of hot days, with or without air conditioning.
Amounts below are for 4 people, 5 days. They are planning estimates; change any of them on your list.
Saves the 9 must-haves, 3 easy-to-forget items and 3 things to do to a list on this device. Upgrades are up to you. Then shop the list item by item and tick things off.
At a glance
- 🔎 Drinking and cleaning water20 gallons
- 🛒 Electrolyte drink mix20 packets
- 🛒 Box fan1 fan
- 🛒 Cooling towels4 towels
- 🔎 Blackout curtains2 panels
- 🛒 Indoor thermometer and humidity monitor1 monitor
- 🔎 Wide-brim sun hats4 hats
- 🔎 Light, loose clothing4 shirts
- 🔎 Reusable water bottles4 bottles
🛒 4 exact products we picked · 🔎 5 Amazon searches, so you choose the brand and size.
Must-haves (9)
- Must-have
Drinking and cleaning water
1 gallon per person per day is the Red Cross and Ready.gov amount. Hot weather, nursing and illness can need more.
Get about 20 gallons
4 people × 5 days × 1 = 20 gallons · official amount
Amazon search: “gallon drinking water”
- Our pickCheck with a pro
Electrolyte drink mix
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, lemon lime, 50 packets
Electrolyte drink packets. Ask a doctor for babies or anyone on fluid limits.
Good for: Heat and stomach bugs
Get about 20 packets (2 × 16-pack)
4 people × 5 days × 1 = 20 packets
For heat and stomach bugs. Ask a doctor for babies and people on fluid limits.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Box fan
Lasko 3723 20-inch box fan
A 20-inch, three-speed box fan.
Good for: Heat waves
Get about 1 fan
1 fan for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Cooling towels
Mission Enduracool cooling towel
Cools when wet. Soak it again to reuse.
Good for: Hot days outside
Get about 4 towels
4 people × 1 = 4 towels
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Blackout curtains
Get about 2 panels
2 panels for the group
Amazon search: “thermal blackout curtains”
- Our pick
Indoor thermometer and humidity monitor
ThermoPro TP50 indoor thermometer and humidity monitor
Shows room temperature and humidity at a glance.
Good for: Heat and cold checks
Get about 1 monitor
1 monitor for the group
Helps you notice when a room is getting too hot or cold for babies and older adults.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Wide-brim sun hats
Get about 4 hats
4 people × 1 = 4 hats
Amazon search: “wide brim sun hat”
Light, loose clothing
Get about 4 shirts
4 people × 1 = 4 shirts
Amazon search: “upf sun shirt”
Reusable water bottles
Get about 4 bottles
4 people × 1 = 4 bottles
Amazon search: “reusable water bottle”
Easy to forget (3)
Ice packs
Get about 4 packs
4 packs for the group
Amazon search: “reusable ice packs for cooler”
- Must-have
Sunscreen
Our rule: an 8 oz bottle lasts about four person-days with reapplying.
Get about 5 bottles
4 people × 5 days × 0.25 = 5 bottles
Lip balm with SPF
Get about 4 tubes
4 people × 1 = 4 tubes
Upgrades (4)
Window air conditioner
Get about 1 unit
1 unit for the group
- Our pick
Battery-powered fan
O2COOL Treva 10-inch battery fan
Runs on D batteries or a wall adapter.
Good for: Summer outages
Get about 2 fans
4 people × 0.5 = 2 fans
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Cooling vest
Get about 2 vests
4 adults × 0.5 = 2 vests
- Budget pick
Portable power station
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus
Runs phones, lights and a small fan. Light enough to carry.
Good for: Short outages
Get about 1 station
1 station for the group
- Upgrade: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 ↗A large battery for small appliances in longer outages.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Spend less (1)
Instead of cooling vest:
- Our pick
Cooling towels
Mission Enduracool cooling towel
Cools when wet. Soak it again to reuse.
Good for: Hot days outside
Get about 4 towels
4 people × 1 = 4 towels
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Things to do (3)
- ✅ Find a cooling centerYour city or county lists them during heat waves.
- ✅ Know the signs of heat illnessCDC lists the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke; heat stroke is a 911 emergency.
- ✅ Check in with older neighbors
Official guide: Ready.gov: Extreme Heat ↗
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General planning information, not professional or medical advice. A list does not guarantee anyone’s safety. In any emergency, call your local emergency number and follow official guidance from local authorities.
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