HEAT WATCH
Purpose: To monitor and provide adequate warning to the residents of Mahoning County, in the event that temperatures and humidity are such that The National Weather Service issues a heat advisory. This shall be accomplished in two ways:
1) Heat Watch: When the temperature and humidity are forecasted to reach Warning or Advisory condition, residents will be asked to:
· Reduce physical activities
· Check on a friend
· Watch/Stay tuned to local weather stations
2) Heat Warning (Emergency): This shall be in coordination with Heat Advisories by The National Weather Service, when the following criteria have been met:
· Two consecutive days of a heat index level of 105 degrees, and / or
two or more consecutive evenings of temperatures not less than 80 degrees.
· In a heat warning / emergency, residents will be asked to do the following:
1) Increase water intake
2) Replace salt & minerals-drink fruit juice or sport drinks during exercise
3) Wear appropriate clothing and use sunscreen
4) Pace yourself, reduce physical activity in the hottest times of the day
5) Care for pets
6) Stay out of sun, stay cool indoors
7) Check on friends, especially the elderly (use buddy system)
8) Be watchful of children playing outdoors
HEAT INJURIES
1) HEAT CRAMPS: Muscle cramps usually in the arms or legs, due to exertion in high temperatures that causes loss of minerals & vitamins contained in sweat.
Suggested actions to take:
· Seek shade or the cool indoors, drink water at a slow steady rate to replenish your body’s supply
· Seek medical aid if cramps become severe
2) HEAT EXHAUSTION: The body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
· Symptoms:
Heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, cool & moist skin, pulse rate may be fast & weak; breathing may be fast & shallow.
· Suggested action to take:
1) Help victim to cool off, move to shade or cool area
2) Have victim drink cool water at a slow steady rate
3) Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen, last more than one hour, or if the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure
3) HEATSTROKE: Occurs when your body becomes unable to control its temperature. As a result, your body’s temperature raises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106 degrees or higher within 10-15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
· Symptoms:
1) Extremely high body temp (103 or above degrees, orally)
2) Red hot and dry skin (no sweating)
3) Rapid strong pulse, throbbing headache
4) Dizziness, nausea, confusion, unconsciousness
· Suggested actions:
1) Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim by getting the victim to a shady or cool area
2) Cool victim rapidly by immersing in a tub of cool water, shower or any means possible
3) Monitor victim’s body temperature while continuing cooling efforts
4) Call Hospital Emergency Room for further instructions if emergency assistance is delayed
HEAT MONITORING
The National Weather Service has adjusted its Heat Warning threshold downward so that a Heat Warning will be issued when the heat index and other factors predict excess mortality. The National Weather Service will:
* Issue an excessive heat outlook when warning conditions are forecasted more than two days in advance.
* Issue a heat watch when conditions are forecasted to reach warning criteria.
* Issue a heat watch when one of the three following conditions exist or are expected imminently: