Extreme Heat
Overview
What is the public health problem?
Exposure to excessive heat can cause illness, injury
and death. Approximately 400 people die each year from exposure to heat
due to weather conditions, and many more people die from health
conditions that are exacerbated by exposure to excess heat. Most
heat-related deaths occur during the summer months. The elderly, the
very young, and people with chronic health problems are most at risk.
Air conditioning is the leading protective factor against heat-related
illness and death. By knowing who is at risk and what prevention
measures to take, heat-related illness can be prevented.
What has CDC accomplished?
- In 1980, 1995, and 1999, CDC staff members conducted case-control
studies in Midwestern cities to identify risk factors associated with
heat-related deaths and deaths due to cardiovascular causes during
heat waves.
- In 2000, CDC staff members assessed the city of Chicago’s “Extreme
Weather Operations Plan” and evaluated its impact on mortality during
the 1999 heat wave.
- CDC staff members are currently preparing for publication and
evaluation of heat emergency response plans for 12 cities.
- Each year, CDC publishes an update of heat-related mortality in
the United States in CDC’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report.
- CDC works on guidelines to assist state and local health
departments in their development of city-specific comprehensive heat
emergency response plans.
What are the next steps?
CDC will (1) continue to collaborate with public
health authorities nationally and internationally to communicate the
risks of extreme heat; (2) further evaluate current heat emergency
response plans with emphasis on their ability to predict mortality and
morbidity associated with specific climatologic factors and their public
health effect and; (3) assume a leadership role in evaluating heat
emergency response plans in order to identify plan components that can
be adopted by city health departments.
For more information on extreme heat, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/extremeheat/default.htm.
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