Heat-related deaths and illness are
preventable yet annually many people
succumb to extreme heat. Historically,
from 1979 to 1999, excessive heat
exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the
United States. During this period,
more people in this country died from extreme heat than
from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earth quakes combined. In 2001, 300 deaths were caused by
excessive heat exposure.
People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are
unable to compensate and properly cool themselves. The
body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some
conditions, sweating just isn’t enough. In such cases, a
person’s body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body
temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs.
Several factors affect the body’s ability to cool itself during
extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat
will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from
releasing heat quickly. Other conditions related to risk
include age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental
illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and
alcohol use.
Because heat-related deaths are preventable, people need to
be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be
taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death. The elderly,
the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic
diseases are at highest risk. However, even young and
healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate
in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.
Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor
against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not
air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related
illness by spending time in public facilities that are
air-conditioned.
Summertime activity, whether on the playing field or the
construction site, must be balanced with measures that aid
the body’s cooling mechanisms and prevent heat-related
illness. This pamphlet tells how you can prevent, recognize,
and cope with heat-related health problems.
