Fans not effective at cooling in extreme heat, doctor says

ABC 17 Stormtrack meteorologists expect heat index values in the triple-digits from Tuesday to Saturday, and Dr. Chris Sampson with MU Health Care says fans won’t keep you cool in those temperatures.

“People… think fans can be helpful and not that (one) could harm you,” Sampson said. “If we’re reaching temperatures above 95 degrees the fan (could blow) superheated air across your skin.”

John Simon, a building regulations supervisor in Columbia, says every apartment building in the past 12 years has been made with central air conditioning, but there is no legal requirement for A/C to be installed in any building.

The Voluntary Action Center has donation and exchange programs for fans and A/C units. This summer they have given 245 fans and exchanged 65 A/C units for low-income families.

You can learn more about our fan program here and our air conditioner program here.