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Heat Wave Terms and Safety Tips
Know these terms:
Heat Wave
Prolonged period of excessive heat and humidity. The National Weather Service steps up its procedures to alert the public during these periods of excessive heat and humidity.
Heat Index
A number in degrees Fahrenheit that tells how hot it really feels when relative humidity is added to the actual air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
|
Category |
Classification |
Heat Index/Apparent Temperature (°F) |
General Affect on People in High Risk Groups |
|
I |
Extremely Hot |
130°F or Higher |
Heat/Sunstroke HIGHLY LIKELY with continued exposure |
|
II |
Very Hot |
105°F - 130°F |
Sunstroke, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion LIKELY, and heatstroke POSSIBLE with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity |
|
III |
Hot |
90°F - 105°F |
Sunstroke, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion POSSIBLE with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity |
|
IV |
Very Warm |
80°F - 90°F |
Fatigue POSSIBLE with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity |
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. They usually involve the abdominal muscles or legs. It is generally thought that the loss of water from heavy sweating causes the cramps.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a warm humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim's condition will worsen. Body temperature will keep rising and the victim may suffer heat stroke.
Heat Stroke
This is a life-threatening condition. The victim's temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
Sunstroke
This is another term for heart stroke.
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