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The Heat Is On

 

 

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According to NOAA, roughly 141 million Americans are under an excessive heat advisory or warning today. 

 

While it is hot down here in Florida today, our heat index doesn’t compare with those being seen in the Midwest this week.

 

The CDC estimates that between 1999-2003, excessive heat was responsible for a total of 3,442 heat-related deaths (annual mean: 688)  (MMWR Heat-Related Deaths --- United States, 1999—2003)

 

You’ll find a detailed webpage on how to handle heat emergencies from the CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response  website:

 

 

Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety

 

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FEMA also has some sage advice on how to handle excessively hot weather.

 

 

During a Heat Emergency

What you should do if the weather is extremely hot:

  • Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
  • Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
  • Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation.
  • Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
  • Drink plenty of water. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
  • Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
  • Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
  • Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
  • Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.

Additional Information

An emergency water shortage can be caused by prolonged drought, poor water supply management, or contamination of a surface water supply source or aquifer.

 

Drought can affect vast territorial regions and large population numbers. Drought also creates environmental conditions that increase the risk of other hazards such as fire, flash flood, and possible landslides and debris flow.

Conserving water means more water available for critical needs for everyone. Appendix A contains detailed suggestions for conserving water both indoors and outdoors. Make these practices a part of your daily life and help preserve this essential resource.

 

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