Tracking Heat Stress Illness

The Tracking Network collects data on heat-related illnesses throughout the United States and provides information so people can protect themselves. Knowing how to prepare for and respond to extreme heat events will help protect our communities, especially the most vulnerable populations, from avoidable hardship.

CDC tracks the effects of a heat wave by collecting and reviewing the number of health conditions reported from local hospitals and the number of deaths reported from state health departments. Reviewing these national data helps scientists make comparisons between environmental conditions and health problems.

Other examples of how heat vulnerability data can be used include:

• Identifying populations and areas with high risk for heat-associated death
• Gaining a better understanding of trends in heat-related deaths over time
• Comparing states and counties to plan interventions
• Identifying communities at risk and the groups of people that may be at risk