05/17/2022
The first day official day of summer is Tuesday, June 21st 2022. And with that in mind we wanted to provide you with some heat-related planning considerations and associated resources regarding extreme heat.
Extreme heat in the summer months of Ohio presents many health challenges to the public, including dehydration, heat stroke, respiratory and cardiovascular distress, and death. Days with high heat, temperatures being above 90°F, may result in surges to the healthcare systems as many people are exposed to the intense weather conditions. Extreme heat may be especially challenging for children, the elderly, individuals that work outdoors, individuals that have limited access to healthcare, and those with existing medical conditions. ODH has put together a brief list of common extreme heat considerations and reference links/websites that may help you prepare for and informationally confront extreme heat impacts.
Health effects of extreme heat:
An increased risk of hospitalization for heart disease.
Heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke if not treated, can cause critical illness, brain injury, and even death.
Worsening asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as heat increases the production of ground-level ozone.
Dehydration, which can lead to kidney injury and blood pressure problems.
Violence, crime, and su***de may increase with temperature, adding to the rates of depression and anxiety.
Medications can pose additional risks:
Some medications can increase the risk of heat-related illness. These include diuretic medicines (sometimes called “water pills”), antihistamine medicines (including many allergy medications), and many antipsychotic medicines used to treat a variety of neurologic and psychiatric illnesses. Please review the link below to see a list of common psychiatric medications that can impair the body’s natural ability to cool itself.
List of Common Psychiatric Medications
Tips to stay safe:
STAY COOL – wear appropriate clothing, stay cool indoors, wear sunscreen, pace yourself when outdoors, do not leave children in cars.
STAY HYDRATED – drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcoholic or very sugary drinks, replace salt and minerals, keep pets and young children hydrated
STAY INFORMED – check for updates on alerts, know the signs of a heat-related illness, monitor those at high risk
Below are some heat-related preparatory questions for your agency to consider for planning:
o Where will residents go for shelter/cooling centers?
o What about those with functional access needs?
o What about those that are electricity-dependent or need oxygen?
o Are there plans in place for distributing water to individuals in your area, including those that are homebound and may have access and functional needs (AFN)?
o Are you prepared for potential power outages due to increasing demands in energy for cooling?
o Do your coalition partners have the resources to respond to an extreme heat weather event?
o What messaging will you provide to the public ahead of the heat wave to allow citizens to make preparations?
o Do you have prepared social media messages or media releases for extreme weather emergencies for your area?
o How will messaging be shared with those with AFN?
o Are there plans in place for contacting outdoor workers regarding the safety measures that should be taken?
o If school is currently in session, how will schools be notified of the high heat for children that may be playing outside during recess or participating in after school sporting events?
Below are a list of basic reference links/websites of information available to combat extreme heat consequences:
Office of Climate Change and Health Equity – Climate and Health Outlook: Extreme Heat:https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/climate-health-outlook-may-2022.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.html
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit – National Integrated Heat Health Information System: https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/human-health/extreme-heat
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Extreme Heat Can Impact Our Health in Many Wayshttps://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/pubs/extreme-heat-final_508.pdf
Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness - Portable Generator Safety Information: https://www.weathersafety.ohio.gov/PortableGeneratorInfo.aspx
