CDC Introduces Online Heat Forecaster to Prevent Heat-Related Emergencies

United States – This past summer was record-breaking, so the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday the launch of a new online heat forecaster to help people prevent heat emergencies as summer draws near.

The HeatRisk Forecast Tool is a collaborative effort between the CDC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service that gives Americans a one-week window of a chance for extreme or intolerable temperatures, as reported by HealthDay.

Accessible Online Heat Forecasting

At Heat-Risk Dashboard, you can enter your zip code to get the latest forecast for the area online.

“Heat can impact our health, but heat-related illness and death are preventable,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement. “We are releasing new heat and health tools and guidance to help people take simple steps to stay safe in the heat.”

Warm weather is becoming increasingly frequent and prolonged with relatively high humidity. ER pages for heart disease in all areas of the country hit a peak as early as last August, and people who had to work outside in the heat also faced higher risks.

Yet, according to the CDC, very high temperatures with no other help than air conditioning may have the same negative consequences for people with preexisting conditions.

The new HeatRisk tool “identifies health and temperature data to deliver a seven-day outlook for hot weather,” the CDC explained. “The tool uses a five-level scale to indicate how risky the heat level is in a specific area.”

The tool is calibrated accordingly, and the particular risk to heat-related health is determined for every region of the country.

Holistic Approach to Heat Safety

“Pulling in data from the HeatRisk Forecast Tool, in the Dashboard, people can enter their zip code and get personalized heat forecast information for their location alongside protective actions to take,” the CDC said.

Of course, you can get air quality info about your area which is from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s AIR NOW Air Quality Index.

Targeted Health Guidance for Vulnerable Populations

The next step is to refer to the CDC’s Heat and Your Health page and find the measures that can help you reduce your risk for heat stress, humidity, and air problems, as reported by HealthDay.

“Even though heat can impact anyone’s physical and mental health, children with asthma, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular disease, among other groups, may be more sensitive,” the CDC said. “That is why the CDC’s clinical guidance focuses on some of the people who may be more sensitive to heat and poor air quality. CDC experts in asthma, cardiovascular disease, and pregnancy worked together to create the guidance.”