SILVER SPRING, MD – April 22, 2024 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with the National Weather Service to create a new dashboard that forecasts the daily risk for heat-related impacts in the continental United States. The announcement was made on April 22nd, ahead of the hot summer months. It can provide risk guidance for “decision-makers” and heat-sensitive populations, to reduce heat-related illness and death.
The dashboard is at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk . There is an easy-to-read color-coded map that forecasts the risk of heat-related impacts over the next 7 days.
The risk categories for heat-related impacts are:
- Green: Little to no risk
- Yellow (Minor): Individuals extremely sensitive to heat can be affected.
- Orange (Moderate): Most individuals sensitive to heat can be affected.
- Red (Major): Anyone can be affected.
- Magenta (Extreme): Describes long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief.
Heat-sensitive populations include:
- Seniors and very young children
- Persons taking certain medicines or with chronic illness
- Outdoor workers
- People without access to air conditioning
- Persons working out or doing strenuous activities
- Persons not taking adequate heat-illness prevention
- Persons and workers not used to hot weather
It is recommended that everyone take frequent breaks out of the heat and rest in a cool, shady place, drink plenty of water (at least one pint per hour), and wear light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting clothing.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that employers:
- Have an emergency plan in place for workers who show signs of heat-related illness
- Train supervisors and workers about the hazards of heat exposure and its prevention
- Provide all new workers with a 1-2-week period of work restrictions until they become acclimatized to the heat
- Provide frequent rest breaks
- Closely monitor employees for symptoms of heat stress
- Have employees ‘buddy up’ to watch each other for signs of heat stress
In an April 22nd press release, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said, “Heat can impact our health, but heat-related illness and death are preventable. We are releasing new heat and health tools and guidance to help people take simple steps to stay safe in the heat.”
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org