This summer has seen the hottest temperatures on record with more extreme heat events. An Extreme Heat Event is defined as a weather condition with excessive heat and/or humidity that has the potential to cause health-related illness or death.
An extreme heat event occurs when any of the following takes place:
- The National Weather Service issues an Excessive Heat Warning for at least 25% of the State’s population
The State Emergency Operations Center is activated due to the prediction of excessive heat- The State’s Department of Public Health regional offices or local and tribal public health agencies request assistance in the event of a heat emergency with confirmed or suspected heat-related fatalities
Populations Vulnerable to Heat
| Adults Over the Age of 65 | They are less aware and adaptable to extreme heat |
| People Living Alonge and/or Without Air Conditioning | They may not know when to call for help |
| Individuals with Disabilities | They may not know or realize they are in danger |
| Children Under 5 | They are sensitive to the effects of extreme heat and rely on others to keep them cool and hydrated |
| People with Chronic Medical Conditions | Medical conditions can worsen the impact of extreme heat |
| Homeless | May be unaware of cooling centers and have limited access to other cooling methods such as cool showers |
| Outdoor Workers | More likely to become dehydrated and more likely to get heat-related illnesses |
| Non-English Speakers | May not have access to current information about heat advisories and health risks associated with extreme heat |
What nurses can do
- Identify patients under your care who are most at risk for a heat related event and provide targeted messaging specific to heat safety
- Call 211 or your local public health department to find out where the cooling shelters are in your area
- Partner with family caregivers to assess their understanding of heat related symptoms, how to prevent and when to report
- Become better informed about heat related illnesses including the signs and symptoms and interventions you can offer. Resources that can help: Extreme Heat – Ready Wiscsonin.gov and The Extreme Heat Toolkit
- Complete the Nurses Respond Now Priority Training to learn how to address the needs of vulnerable populations during public health emergencies.
A recipient of the Center for Championing Nursing in America Innovation Award this Priority Training provides individual nurses and healthcare organizations an effective way to meet the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 recommendation of preparing nurses to respond to disasters and public health emergencies; and promotes a Culture of Health, an initiative of the AARP Foundation, AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).