Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. …

1 Department of Health And Human ServicesCenters for Disease Control and Department of Health And Human ServicesCenters for Disease Control and PreventionFor more information on hot weather conditions and health, please contact: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNational center for Environmental Health, MS F524700 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA 30341-37171-888-232-6789; more information on cold weather conditions and health, please contact: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNational center for Environmental Health, MS F524700 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA 30341-37171-888-232-6789; deaths and illness are preventable yet annually many peoplesuccumb to extreme heat . Historically,from 1979 to 1999, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in theUnited States. During this period,more people in this country died from extreme heat thanfrom hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earth-quakes combined.

2 In 2001, 300 deaths were caused byexcessive heat exposure. People suffer heat -related illness when their bodies areunable to compensate and properly cool themselves. Thebody normally cools itself by sweating. But under someconditions, sweating just isn t enough. In such cases, a person s body temperature rises rapidly. Very high bodytemperatures may damage the brain or other vital factors affect the body s ability to cool itself duringextremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweatwill not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body fromreleasing heat quickly. Other conditions related to riskinclude age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart Disease , mentalillness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug andalcohol heat -related deaths are preventable, people need tobe aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can betaken to prevent a heat -related illness or death.

3 The elderly,the very young, and people with mental illness and chronicdiseases are at highest risk. However, even young andhealthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participatein strenuous physical activities during hot weather. Air-conditioning is the number one protective factoragainst heat -related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat -relatedillness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned. Summertime activity, whether on the playing field or theconstruction site, must be balanced with measures that aidthe body s cooling mechanisms and prevent heat -related illness. This pamphlet tells how you can prevent, recognize,and cope with heat -related health winter temperatures drop significantly below normal, stayingwarm and safe can become a chal-lenge. Extremely cold temperaturesoften accompany a winter storm, so youmay have to cope with power failures andicy roads.

4 Although staying indoors as much as possible canhelp reduce the risk of car crashes and falls on the ice, youmay also face indoor hazards. Many homes will be toocold either due to a power failure or because the heatingsystem isn t adequate for the weather. When people mustuse space heaters and fireplaces to stay warm, the risk ofhousehold fires increases, as well as the risk of carbonmonoxide poisoning. Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside,can cause other serious or life-threatening health and the elderly are particularly at risk, but anyonecan be affected. To keep yourself and your family safe, youshould know how to prevent cold-related health problemsand what to do if a cold-weather health emergency arises. The emergency procedures outlined hereare not a substitute for training in firstaid. However, these procedures will helpyou to know when to seek medical careand what to do until help becomes available.

5 What Is Extreme Cold? What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can varyacross different areas of the country. In regions relativelyunaccustomed to winter weather, near freezing temperaturesare considered extreme cold. Whenever temperaturesdrop decidedly below normal and as wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly. These weather-related conditions may lead to serious health cold is a dangerous situation that can bring onhealth emergencies in susceptible people, such as thosewithout shelter or who are stranded, or who live in a homethat is poorly insulated or without Is Extreme heat ? Temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region and last for severalweeks are defined as extreme heat . Humid or muggy conditions, which add to the discomfort of high tempera-tures, occur when a dome of high atmospheric pressuretraps hazy, damp air near the ground.

6 Excessively dry andhot conditions can provoke dust storms and low occur when a long period passes without substantialrainfall. A heat wave combined with a drought is a verydangerous Hot WeatherTo protect your health when temperatures are extremelyhigh, remember to keep cool and use common sense. Thefollowing tips are important:Drink Plenty of FluidsDuring hot weather you will need to increase your fluidintake, regardless of your activity level. Don t wait untilyou re thirsty to drink. During heavy exercisein a hot environment, drink two to fourglasses (16 32 ounces) of cool fluidseach hour. Warning:If your doctor generally limitsthe amount of fluid you drink or has youon water pills, ask how much you shoulddrink while the weather is t drink liquids that contain caffeine,alcohol, or large amounts of sugar these actually cause you to losemore body fluid. Also avoid verycold drinks, because they cancause stomach cramps.

7 2 Plan AheadPrepare for extremely cold weather every winter it salways a possibility. There are steps you can take in advancefor greater wintertime safety in your home and in your car. Emergency Supplies List: an alternate way to heat your home during a power failure:- dry firewood for a fireplace or wood stove, or - kerosene for a kerosene heater furnace fuel (coal, propane, or oil) electric space heater with automatic shut-off switch and non-glowing elements blankets matches multipurpose, dry-chemical fire extinguisher first aid kit and instruction manual flashlight or battery-powered lantern battery-powered radio battery-powered clock or watch extra batteries non-electric can opener snow shovel rock salt special needs items (diapers,hearing aid batteries,medications, etc.)Winter Survival Kit for Your Home Keep several days supply of these items: Foodthat needs no cooking or refrigeration,such as bread, crackers, cereal, canned foods,and dried fruits.

8 Remember baby food and formula if you have young children. Waterstored in clean containers, or purchasedbottled water (5 gallons per person) in caseyour water pipes freeze and rupture. Medicinesthat any family member may your area is prone to long periods of cold temperatures, or if your home is isolated, stockadditional amounts of food, water, and Salt and MineralsHeavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the are necessary for your body and must be replaced. Ifyou must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replacethe salt and minerals you lose in sweat. However, if you areon a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking asports beverage or taking salt tablets. Wear Appropriate Clothing and SunscreenWear as little clothing as possible when you are at lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting affects your body s ability to cool itself and causesa loss of body fluids.

9 It also causes pain and damages theskin. If you must go outdoors,protect yourself from thesun by wearing awide-brimmedhat (also keepsyou cooler) alongwith sunglasses,and by putting onsunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the mosteffectiveproducts say broad spectrum or UVA/UVB protection on theirlabels) 30 minutes prior to going to reapply it according to thepackage OutdoorActivities CarefullyIf you must be outdoors, try to limityour outdoor activity to morningand evening hours. Try to restoften in shady areas so that yourbody s thermostat will have a chance to YourselfIf you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hotenvironment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Ifexertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves yougasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool areaor at least into the shade, and rest, especially if you becomelightheaded, confused, weak, or Your Home for WinterAlthough periods of extreme cold cannot always be predictedfar in advance, weatherforecasts can sometimes provideyou with several days notice.

10 Listen to weather forecasts regularly, and check your emergency supplieswhenever a period of extreme cold is predicted. If you plan to use a fireplace or wood stove for emergencyheating, have your chimney or flue inspected each your local fire department to recommend an inspector,or find one in the yellow pages of your telephone directoryunder chimney cleaning. Also, if you ll be using a fireplace, wood stove, or keroseneheater, install a smoke detector and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near the area to be heated. Testthem monthly, and replace batteries twice yearly. Your ability to feel a change in temperature decreases withage, and older people are more susceptible to health problems caused by cold. If you are over 65 years old,place an easy-to-read thermometer in an indoorlocation where you will see it frequently, andcheck the temperature of your home oftenduring the winter any water lines that run along exterior walls soyour water supply will be less likely to freeze.