Know the dangers of heat-related illnesses so that you can protect your health during hot weather events.
Heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable, however, many people still suffer from extreme heat. People experience heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to properly cool themselves.
Extreme heat is defined as summertime temperatures that are hotter or more humid than average for the location and time of year. Increased humidity can make it seem hotter than it is.
Extreme heat events can affect many different people depending on where they live, their income, age, profession, activities they participate in, and their medical conditions. As extreme heat events become more common in the United States, increased understanding of heat-related illnesses, and how to prevent them, is important.
The following sections outline common health conditions associated with extreme heat and what you can do to protect yourself and loved ones.
Some individuals are at greater risk for heat-related illness than others, and this can be due to multiple factors including how old they are, what health conditions they have, where they live, work or recreate, and their age. Luckily, there are ways to reduce risk for yourself and for others. Learn more about how to protect yourself and your loved ones during a heat event.