Planning for Extreme Heat

Preventative Steps to Reduce your Risk for Illness during Excessive Heat Events

Many older adults are at a heightened risk for heat-related illness or death. With age, the body’s cooling mechanisms may become impaired and living alone or confined to a bed can further increase risk. This page describes the many simple preventative steps you can take to decrease the impact of excessive heat events.

Reducing your Risk during Excessive Heat Events

Excessive heat events: Excessive heat events are prolonged periods when temperatures reach 10 degrees Fahrenheit or more above the average high temperature for a region

It's Too Darn Hot: Planning for Excessive Heat Events
(4pp, 246K, About PDF)

Who is at risk from extreme heat: Older adults, young children as well as those with chronic illnesses are at high risk from excessive heat events. In addition, people who live on top floors without air conditioning, participate in strenuous outdoor activities and consume alcohol are more likely to be at risk.

What is heat stroke: Heat stroke is the most serious health effect of excessive heat events, when the body loses its ability to cool itself. If not treated immediately, heat stroke can cause severe and permanent damage to vital organs.

How to identify heat stroke: Victims' skin will appears hot, dry, and red. Other warning signs are confusion, hallucinations, and aggression.

How to protect against exposure to excessive heat:

Air-conditioning, even for a few hours a day, can greatly reduce the risk of illness or death.
Other prevention strategies are:
- Taking a cool shower or bath,
- Drinking plenty of fluids,
- Avoiding beverages containing caffeine, or alcohol,
- Wearing clothing that is lightweight, light-colored, and loose fighting.
Ask your doctor if the medication you take increases your susceptibility to heat-related illness,
Visit at-risk individuals twice a day
Call 9-1-1 if medical attention is needed.

Resources:

Fact Sheets:

It’s Too Darn Hot: Planning for Excessive Heat Events (4pp, 246K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-07-025
Spanish (PDF) (4pp, 165K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-05-001
Arabic | العربية (PDF) (2pp, 153MB , About PDF)
Publication Number 100-F-07-005
Armenian (PDF) (4pp, 743K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-08-024
Chinese (PDF) (4pp, 1.8 MB, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-04-024
French (PDF) (4pp, 459K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-07-019
Haitian Creole (PDF) (4pp, 251K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-05-035
Italian (PDF) (4pp, 195K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-07-031
Korean (PDF) (4pp, 847K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-05-037
Polish | Polski (PDF) (4pp, 361K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-07-052
Portuguese (PDF) (4pp, 195K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-05-054
Russian (PDF) (4pp, 182K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-05-016
Spanish (PDF) (4pp, 165K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-05-001
Portuguese (PDF) (4 pp, 195K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-05-054
Vietnamese | Tiếng Việt (PDF) (4pp, 724K, About PDF)
Publication Number EPA-100-F-05-048