CDC Urges People to Prepare for Extreme Heat this Summer

Summer is upon us and we all know the feeling of the scorching heat. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions people about the summer heat in their latest report.

In a new report, the CDC is urging people to prepare for extreme heat this summer by staying cool, hydrated and informed.

"No one should die from a heat wave, but every year on average, extreme heat causes 658 deaths in the United States-more than tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and lightning combined," said Robin Ikeda, MD, MPH, acting director of the National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. "Taking common sense steps in extreme temperatures can prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths."

The dangers of extreme heat are linked to several health issues such as high body temperature, organ damage, brain damage and in severe cases, even death. When a person's body is unable to compensate and cool itself properly, he or she is prone to suffer from illness caused by extreme heat.

People with chronic medical conditions, the poor and homeless, elderly, young children and those who exercise outdoors are at a higher risk of being affected with extreme heat.

A recent report in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report noticed that from 1999-2009 in the U.S., nearly 7,233 heat-related deaths occurred. On analyzing the data of 2012, it was seen that deaths linked to heat exposure is on the rise. In a two-week period in 2012, excessive heat exposure resulted in 32 deaths in four states, which was four times the typical average for states with the same two-week period from 1999-2009.  Nearly 69 percent of the deaths occurred at home and 91 occurred at homes without air conditions. Of the victims, 72 percent were males.

Three states, namely Texas, California and Arizona, account for 40 percent of the heat-related deaths, reports CDC's Environmental Tracking Network (1999 to 2009).

In the report, CDC suggests that the local government take on some advance planning and preparation to lower the death rate caused due to extreme heat exposure. Their advanced planning should consist of increased access to air conditions, cooling stations and public locations to be used by people for temporary relief from heat.

"Heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable. Taking steps to stay cool, hydrated and informed in extreme temperatures can prevent serious health effects like heat exhaustion and heat stroke," said Ethel Taylor, DVM, MPH, the study's lead author.