Excessive  Heat  Events
                Guidebook  in  Brief
               EPA 430-B-06-006 | June 2006
               Quick Tips for Responding to
               Excessive Heat Events
               For the Public

               Do
                *• Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations
                  such as malls and libraries
                +• Use portable electric fans to exhaust hot air from rooms or
                  draw in cooler air
                r  Take a cool bath or shower
                *- Minimize direct exposure to the sun
                >- Stay hydrated - regularly drink water or other nonalcoholic fluids
                +• Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads
                +• Wear loose fitting, light-colored clothes
                >• Check on older, sick, or frail people who may need help
                  responding to the heat
                *- Know the symptoms of excessive heat exposure and the
                  appropriate responses.
               Don't
                >• Direct the flow of portable electric fans toward yourself when
                  room temperature is hotter than 90°F
                  Leave children and pets alone in cars for any amount of time
                +• Drink alcohol to try to stay cool
                +• Eat heavy, hot, or hard-to-digest foods
                  Wear heavy, dark clothing.
               For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/about/healthenv.html
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CDC
             United States Environmental Protection Agency
FEJ\1 A     Office of Atmospheric Programs (6207J)
             1 200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460

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Excessive Heat Events Guidebook in Brief
Useful Community Interventions
For Public Officials

Send a clear public message
 >• Communicate that EHEs are dangerous and conditions can be
   life-threatening. In the event of conflicting environmental safety
   recommendations, emphasize that health protection should be the
   first priority.
Inform the public of anticipated EHE conditions
 i  When will EHE conditions be dangerous?
 *- How long will EHE conditions last?
 »- How hot will it FEEL at specific times during the day
   (e.g., 8 A.M., 12 P.M., 4 P.M., 8 P.M.)?
Assist those at greatest risk
 *- Assess locations with vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes
   and public housing
 »- Staff additional emergency medical personnel to address the
   anticipated increase in demand
 •»• Shift/expand homeless intervention services to cover daytime hours
   Open cooling centers to offer relief for people without air
   conditioning and urge the public to use them.
Provide access to additional sources of information
 >• Provide toll-free numbers and Web site addresses for heat
   exposure  symptoms and responses
 *• Open hotlines to report concerns about individuals who may
   be at risk
 '- Coordinate broadcasts of EHE response information in newspapers
   and on television and radio.

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