The Definition of Extreme Heat

4 Robinson, Alexander, et al. “Increasing heat and precipitation extremes now far outside historical climate.” NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science 4, 45 (2021). doi:10.1038/s41612-021-00202-w The ministry has developed a heat alert system to inform people of extreme heat and heat waves in Victoria. Some factors that could increase your risk of developing heat-related illness include: Know the signs of heat-related illness and how to respond to it: Heatwave plans help the government support community members who are most at risk during a heat wave. 2 On the global assessment of extreme heat: World Health Organization, “Heat Waves”. Retrieved 23 June 2022. And, Ebi, Kristie, et al. “Extreme Hot and Heat: Health Risks.” The Lancet, Volume 398, Number 10301, August 2021. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01208-3. You can subscribe to heat-related health alerts.

You can also consult the 2019 newsletter. Prepare and act This section contains additional resources to prepare for extreme heat and activities during the day. Counting extreme heat on health: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Climate change indicators: heat-related deaths.” Retrieved 23 June 2022. With climate change, extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity. For many places, this means an increase in extremely hot temperatures. In addition to heat stroke, extreme heat conditions can worsen many health problems, such as respiratory diseases, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and others. Extreme heat disproportionately affects low-income communities, who may not have the resources to pay for cooling their homes, and communities of color, due to historic policies such as redlining that forced these populations to live in poorer housing and neighborhoods with higher temperatures. Information on summer hot spells in the health sector in Victoria. 5 D`Ippoliti, D., Michelozzi, P., Marino, C. et al.

“The impact of heat waves on mortality in 9 European cities: results from the EuroHEAT project.” Environmental Health 9, 37 (2010). doi:10.1186/1476-069X-9-37 Daytime heat ratings greater than or equal to 105°F for two hours or more. Extreme heat is most dangerous for young children, the elderly, and people with illnesses such as heart disease. People who work outdoors, people who don`t have access to air conditioning or other ways to cool down, and people living in dense cities where the urban heat island effect raises temperatures are also more at risk. These factors mean that the increase in extreme heat, like other effects of climate change, is likely to hit already vulnerable populations hardest, especially in developing countries. If you suspect heat stroke, call 9-1-1 or take the person to the hospital immediately. Refresh yourself with all available methods until medical help arrives. Do not give the person anything to drink.

6 Kang, Sukhul and Elfatih A.B. Eltahir. “The North China Plain threatened by deadly heat waves due to climate change and irrigation.” Nature Communications 9:2894 (2018), doi:10.1038/s41467-018-05252-y. There`s an easy way to measure if heat and humidity reach dangerous levels: just wrap a thermometer in a damp cloth. A measurement from such a thermometer is called the wet bulb temperature. Like the perspiration of the human body, the thermometer tries to get rid of excess heat by evaporating water from the tissue into the air. In a dry environment, water evaporates quickly and the temperature of the wet bulb is much lower than the air temperature. But in a humid environment, the air cannot absorb as much moisture from the fabric, and the temperature of the wet bulb is closer to the temperature of the air.

A wet thermometer temperature above 80°F can be very dangerous, even for a perfectly healthy person. Above 95°F is considered unsurvivable for more than a few hours. The radiation temperature, which is the heat that comes from a hot object. Examples in the home can be radiators, stoves, stoves, and other appliances or household items that generate heat. Know the signs of heat-related illness and intervention options. If you are sick and need medical help, contact your doctor for advice and, if possible, to find local protection. If you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. Causes: As local and global average temperatures rise due to climate change, the extreme heat threshold also increases, resulting in more extreme heat days and generally warmer temperatures. Climate Central`s Extreme Heat Toolkit provides an animation explaining this change and also includes other visual resources that show trends as temperatures rise. Today, dangerously hot and humid days are rare, although they do occur: a heatwave like this one in Europe killed tens of thousands of people in 2003.5 Climate models suggest that unless further action is taken to halt climate change in the coming decades, deadly combinations of heat and humidity will reach some of the world`s most densely populated regions.

including the northern China Plain6 and northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.7 7 Im, Eun-Soon, Jeremy S. Pal and Elfatih A.B. Eltahir. “Deadly heat waves are forecast in densely populated agricultural regions of South Asia.” Science Advances 3 (August 2017). doi:10.1126/sciadv.1603322 Extreme heat is defined as summer temperatures that are much warmer and/or wetter than average. Since some places are warmer than others, it depends on what is considered average for a particular place at that time of year. Wet and humid conditions can make it feel hotter than it really is. Extreme heat often results in the highest number of annual deaths of any weather-related hazard. In most of the United States, extreme heat is defined as a long period (2 to 3 days) of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees.

In extreme heat, evaporation is slowed down and the body has to work very hard to maintain a normal temperature. This can lead to death by overloading the human body. Remember: Daytime heat ratings from 100°F to 104°F for two hours or more. The heat index is a measure of the heat felt when relative humidity is taken into account with air temperature. The elderly, children, and people who are sick or overweight are at higher risk of extreme heat. Health professionals play a key role in the prevention and management of heat-related illness. In extreme heat, people are susceptible to three heat-related illnesses. Learn how to recognize and respond to them: Keeping the temperature in the home thermally controlled is one of the 10 principles of a healthy home recognized by the National Center for Healthy Housing, as tenants and homeowners are at increased risk of various health problems associated with prolonged exposure to excessive heat or cold. if their homes do not maintain sufficient temperatures. Supporting the availability of resources, services, programs and policies that improve heat control in homes and ensure homes can protect their occupants in extreme heat is a healthy home issue.