Tag: heat wave

The Dangers of Extreme Heat

The Dangers of Extreme Heat

This July has been the hottest in human history, and extreme heat has impacted most of the US. The groups most at risk from high temperatures include seniors, children, and people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, there are few protections for outdoor workers.

  • Health Impacts: Heat is the most deadly extreme weather condition. A recent study found a rise in heart attacks on days of extreme heat and high pollution levels.
  • Urban Heat Islands: A new analysis found that about 41 million urban residents experience temperature increases of 8 degrees or more.
  • Policies: There is pressure on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to designate extreme heat events as natural disasters. The White House has announced measures to protect workers and vulnerable communities from extreme heat.

Resources & Initiatives:

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Hot Weather Safety

Hot weather precautions to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke

  • Stay indoors and in an air-conditioned environment as much as possible unless you’re sure your body has a high tolerance for heat.
  • Drink plenty of fluids but avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or a lot of sugar.
  • Eat more frequently but make sure meals are balanced and light.
  • Never leave any person or pet in a parked vehicle.
  • Avoid dressing babies in heavy clothing or wrapping them in warm blankets.
  • Check frequently on people who are elderly, ill or may need help. If you might need help, arrange to have family, friends or neighbors check in with you at least twice a day throughout warm weather periods.
  • Make sure pets have plenty of water.
  • Salt tablets should only be taken if specified by your doctor. If you are on a salt-restrictive diet, check with a doctor before increasing salt intake.
  • If you take prescription diuretics, antihistamines, mood-altering or antispasmodic drugs, check with a doctor about the effects of sun and heat exposure.
  • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun. Awnings or louvers can reduce the heat entering a house by as much as 80 percent.

If you go outside

  • Plan strenuous outdoor activities for early or late in the day when temperatures are cooler; then gradually build up tolerance for warmer conditions.
  • Take frequent breaks when working outdoors.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sun block and light-colored, loose-fitting clothes when outdoors.
  • At first signs of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), move to a cooler location, rest for a few minutes and slowly drink a cool beverage. Seek medical attention immediately if you do not feel better.
  • Avoid sunburn: it slows the skin’s ability to cool itself. Use a sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (sun protection factor) rating.
  • Avoid extreme temperature changes. A cool shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures can result in hypothermia, particularly for elderly or very young people.

If the power goes out or air conditioning is not available

  • If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine.
  • Ask your doctor about any prescription medicine you keep refrigerated. (If the power goes out, most medicine will be fine to leave in a closed refrigerator for at least 3 hours.)
  • Keep a few bottles of water in your freezer; if the power goes out, move them to your refrigerator and keep the doors shut.

Visit the Washington State Department of Health for more information.

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Another extreme heat event expected over the weekend

Cooling centers considered a key tool in preventing illness for people without air conditioning

OLYMPIA — Hot weather is back again and is expected to impact the entire state starting on Friday, with temps expected in the high 90s and even into the 100s in some places. The  Washington State Department of Health is advising people all across the state to take precautions for staying cool, staying safe, and saving lives during this extreme heat event.

Historically this kind of weather has been unheard of for the Pacific Northwest, but as we saw just a few weeks ago, it can be deadly. The catastrophic heat event in late June of this year contributed to 95 deaths in Washington alone between June 26 and July 2.

Climate change is an emergency, and while we wait for decisive action on a global scale to slow its progress, we must work in the meantime to protect ourselves and the people around us when extreme weather takes hold.

Since the majority of people in Washington do not have air conditioning, cooling off can be a difficult challenge. Now more than ever, cooling centers are considered a key resource in protecting people from heat-related illness and other complications that can stem from hot weather. Many regional cooling centers will be established across the state and free to the public during this heat event. Dial 2-1-1 or use the statewide online resource here to find cooling centers near you. Language assistance is available.

Other key recommendations for heat safety include:

Stay indoors and in an air-conditioned environment as much as possible. Consider wearing a mask whenever you’re indoors with people who don’t live with you.

Keep your home cool by pulling window shades closed throughout the day. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.

Do not rely on a fan as your only cooling source. While electric fans might provide some comfort, they won’t prevent heat-related illness when temperatures are very hot.

Check on your friends, family and neighbors before bedtime. The heat isn’t expected to dip at night, so people who need help may not realize it until much later in the day. Assist those who are vulnerable or at higher risk, neighbors who are elderly, ill or may need help.

Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids but don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.

Keep outdoor pets safe in the heat, make sure they have protection from heat. Walk on grass instead of asphalt, which can burn your pet’s paws. Never leave any person or pet in a parked vehicle.

If you notice symptoms of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), act immediately. Move to a cooler location to rest for a few minutes and seek medical attention immediately if you do not feel better.

Follow water safety tips if you go swimming or boating. Remember that swimming in open water is very different from swimming in a pool and make sure to wear a life jacket that fits you.

Check for restrictions or warnings in your area before lighting any outdoor fires. High temperatures and dry conditions increase wildfire risk.

Read CDC’s list of frequently asked questions regarding extreme heat here.

DDA Issues Air Quality, Wildfire Prevention & Heat Wave Advisory

Information on Air Quality, Wildfire Prevention & Heat Wave Advisory

Air Quality

Washington State is experiencing serious air quality issues due to the wildfires that have been occurring around the state. Unhealthy air quality can impact people who have respiratory and immune system issues.

Below are some resources from the Department of Health website for you to review.  If your health situation becomes worse, we encourage you to contact your health care provider.

See the below links for more information on air quality.

Department of Health– this link provides some guidance on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

Department of Health -this link includes information about health concerns that may impact people with respiratory and immune systems as a result of the wildfire smoke in your area.

The Department of Ecology has a map to show you air quality situations in different areas of the state that are impacted by the wildfires, or check out airnow.gov.

Wildfire Prevention

Wildfires may cause people to evacuate their homes or be without power for days.

Read our Care Provider Bulletin and put a plan in place to protect people you support and yourself when fire danger exists. Check out this link on Washington Wildfire Resources.

Heat Wave Advisory and Cooling Stations

Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. In extreme heat your body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. This exertion can lead to death. In fact, extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards. For more information go to ready.gov/heat.

Please take a few minutes to learn what you can do to keep the people you support and yourself safe while enjoying the summer.

Heat-Related Deaths in Washington State Climb After Historic Heat Wave

As the result of the extreme heat wave last week, the Department of Health has further identified a total of 78 likely heat-related deaths in Washington state. 

To compare, in 2020, there were seven heat-related deaths in Washington state from mid-June to the end of August. From 2015 to 2020, there were a total of 39 deaths during warmer months (May through September).

Extreme heat events (heat waves) are predicted to happen more often and last longer due to our changing climate. Climate change is a global environmental and public health threat. Learn more about climate change and health impacts.

“This huge jump in mortality due to heat is tragic and something many people thought they’d never see in the Pacific Northwest with its mostly moderate climate,” says Acting State Health Officer Scott Lindquist, MD, MPH. “But climates are changing, and we see the evidence of that with dramatic weather events, major flooding, historic forest fires, and more.”

The majority of these deaths were in King and Pierce counties. The highest number of deaths occurred on June 29, with 33 reported deaths. Nineteen counties in total have reported heat-related deaths. More than 2,000 heat-related emergency department (ED) visits have been reported by hospitals that transmit data to the state between June 25-July 1. Ninety-five percent of EDs transmit data to DOH. This data does not include Washington residents who sought care in Oregon or Idaho, or those who received care through the Veterans Administration or military.

These numbers are preliminary and are subject to change. Deaths are reported to the state by health care providers, medical examiners/coroners, local health departments, and others. For this reason, the statewide count of deaths often lags behind the counts of local health departments.

DOH is also waiting on a number of “pending” deaths to be given a cause of death. A near-final count for heat-related deaths will not be available for at least a month as the agency waits for the pending deaths to be reviewed and completed by local medical examiners and coroners.

DOH will report heat-related deaths by county here throughout the warm weather season. The pate will be updated every Monday.

Remember Summer Safety Precautions Ahead of Expected Weekend Heatwave

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is urging people to take precautions, stay cool, and protect themselves ahead of a record-breaking heatwave expected this weekend.

Stay indoors and in an air-conditioned environment as much as possible. Visit friends, family or neighbors with air conditioning or spend time in air-conditioned public places. If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, make sure to wear a mask whenever you’re indoors with people who don’t live with you.

If air conditioning is not available to you, pulling window shades closed throughout the day when the sun is on the windows will help keep the inside cooler. Do not rely on a fan as your only cooling source. While fans might provide some comfort, they won’t prevent heat-related illness when temperatures are very hot. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.

Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids but avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or a lot of sugar. Carry water with you and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.

Help those who are vulnerable or at higher risk. Check in frequently with family, friends and neighbors who are elderly, ill or may need help. Avoid dressing babies and children in heavy clothing or wrapping them in warm blankets. Keep outdoor pets safe in the heat, make sure they have protection from heat and sun and access to cold, fresh water. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws, walk on grass if possible. Never leave any person or pet in a parked vehicle.

If you do go outside, protect yourself from heat and sun. Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself, so make sure to use sunscreen with a high SPF rating. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-colored, loose-fitting clothes. Seek shade in parks and greenspaces where it will be cooler than in paved areas.

If you are working outside, try to plan strenuous activities for early or late in the day when temperatures are cooler. Take frequent breaks and hydrate regularly. Employers should take steps to protect people who work outdoors, including adjusting work schedules and activities, providing access to water and monitoring workers for illness.

If you notice symptoms of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), act immediately. Move to a cooler location to rest for a few minutes and seek medical attention immediately if you do not feel better.  

Avoid extreme temperature changes. Taking a cold shower right after coming in from the heat or jumping into cold water when swimming outside can cause rapid changes in your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure and even cause hypothermia.

Follow water safety tips if you go swimming or boating. Remember that swimming in open water is very different from swimming in a pool and make sure to wear a life jacket that fits you.

Before lighting any outdoor fires, check for restrictions or warnings in your area. High temperatures and dry conditions increase wildfire risk.

“Hot weather and high temperatures can quickly go from uncomfortable to life-threatening,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health. “We can all take steps to reduce our risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke and help others stay safe.”