On behalf of the Vermont Department of health:
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for parts of Vermont for Thursday and is expecting hot and humid conditions through the weekend. Heat index values are expected to reach 95-100°F in some locations. Warm & humid nights will make it challenging for anyone without air conditioning to stay cool.
Vermont data indicates that emergency department visits for heat-related illnesses increase when temperatures reach the mid- to upper-80s, with impacts getting progressively worse as temperatures rise into the 90s. Humid conditions make the temperature feel even hotter.
Prevention guidance for communities
Use Front Porch Forum or social media to raise awareness – examples are provided in our Hot Weather Media Toolkit.
Be familiar with symptoms of heat-related illnesses and first aid responses.
Offer safe and fun ways to stay cool, such as free or extended access to beaches and pools, providing hoses or misters, and offering free cold beverages.
Consider opening a cooling center, which could be any air-conditioned, publicly accessible location (for example, a library or community center)
Mobilize local care networks to check in on people at high risk for heat-related illnesses.
For outdoor work, recreational activities, or other local events, ensure that organizes are prepared with water, cooling strategies, and event modification or cancellation plans.
Hot weather can affect anyone – be aware of your own symptoms and look out for others
Find detailed hot weather planning guidance and a planning template.
Find more information about risk factors, symptoms and safety tips. The page also now includes a map of indoor and outdoor cooling locations where people can go to cool off. Safety tips are available in English plus Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, French, Karen, Kirundi, Nepali, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese.
The Health Department also maintains a Hot Weather Media Toolkit, which includes key messages about risks and prevention strategies and example Front Porch Forum and social media messages. Please feel free to modify and use these messages in your communications.
National Weather Service Hazardous Weather Outlook
Questions? Call the Vermont Department of Health/Environmental Health at 802-863-7220, extension 0, or contact ClimateHealth@vermont.gov.
Original source can be found here.
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