APDF version of this report can be found to the right under "Attachments."Refresh the webpage if the PDF attachment does not appear. Web browser pop-upwindows may need to be enabled. OSAC app users should look for thePDF version by scrolling down to the bottom of thispage.
July 13, 2016
Summary
Withthe onset of summer in the northern hemisphere, various locations popular withtourists and business travelers alike have already started to feel the risingmercury. And, before the summer ends, some regions will see temperatures risewell beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit, often for protracted periods. Meanwhile,others have relatively short-term extreme heat waves/events, which the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency defines as “periods of summertime weather thatare substantially hotter and/or more humid than typical for a given location atthat time of year.”
Excessive heat regularlycauses more deaths than any other weather event in many countries. No matterwhere one travels, knowing the signs of heat-related illness and what to do canbe critical for life-safety. Extreme heat is a real threat to public healththat are expected to become worse (longer, more severe, and more frequent) dueto climate change.
Heat-related Illness
Extremeheat events cause a wide range of health problems such as cramps, heatexhaustion, and heat stroke. Extreme heat can also make existing medicalconditions worse. People in urban areas may beat greater risk from the effects of a prolonged heat wave than are people inrural areas, in part because urban surfaces (such as asphalt) tend to retainheat. Those traveling from more temperate places to locations with more extremetemperatures may also be at risk.
Heat cramps: muscular pains and spasms that usuallyoccur in the legs or abdomen. Heat cramps are often an early sign that the bodyis having trouble dealing with the heat.
What to do: move to a cooler place; rest, stretch/massageaffected muscle(s); drink water or electrolyte-containing fluids.
Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating;weakness; cold, pale, and clammy skin; fast, weak pulse; nausea or vomiting;fainting.
What to do: move to acooler location; lie down and loosen clothing; apply cool, wet cloths to asmuch of the body as possible; sip water; seek medical attention for persistent vomiting.
Heat stroke: high body temperature(above 103 degrees Fahrenheit/ 39 degrees Celsius); hot, red skin - dry ormoist; rapid and strong pulse; possible unconsciousness.
What to do: CALL formedical help (911, 999, or a local emergency equivalent) immediately and followthe operator's directions - this is a medical emergency; move the person to acooler place; reduce the person's body temperature with cool cloths or a bath;do NOT give liquids.
Associated Safety Concerns
Extremeheat events, which are often accompanied by dry conditions, can also createconditions that are rife for wildfires. Fires, in turn, can further degrade theair quality due to the smoke that they put off. Scorched trees should beconsidered unstable and removed to prevent further damage. Certain locationswith already bad air quality become demonstrably worse due to the weather orfires—natural or manmade. OSAC constituents can rely on several differentsources to help discern when air quality may be an issue. The U.S. Departmentof State reports on air quality issues at more than a dozen embassies andconsulates abroad via an online research tool. Additionally, theU.S. Mission in China helps travelers by communicating air quality reports via Twitter. And, OSAC has reported on the effects offires on air quality in Southeast Asia, as well as the link between risingtemperatures, drought, and security in southern Africa.
A Global Check
June 2016 was the hottest June on file and the ninthconsecutive month to break global temperature records, according to NASA’s GISS. Expertsbelieve with near certainty that 2016 will break all previous heat records.
In late May, India recorded its highest-ever temperature, in Phalodi, Rajasthan, of 51C (123.8F),with over two consecutive days over 50C. The excessive heat has resulted in ared-level alert in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Nearly 400 peoplenationwide have died from this heat wave; over 2,500 people died in 2015’s hotsummer, which led the National Disaster Management Authority to draftheat-awareness action plans.
TheDepartment of EnvironmentalProtection of Taiwan, which has had the hottest June in 120 years,announced an interdepartmentalstandard operating procedure when temperatures remain above 37C (98.6F) for three days.
These high temperaturesare partly attributable to the cyclical El Nino phenomenon that experts believewill abate before the year’s end; then the La Nina cycle, which should coolglobal temperatures, begins.
Guidance
Manyof the negative health effects attributable to extreme heat events arepreventable and can be incorporated into an extreme-heat program that istypically cost-effective and feasible even in low resource settings. Some ofthe core components might include:
Awritten, publicly approved program plan;
Consistentmessaging, information, and instructions via public broadcast, websites, email,and social media;
Formalcheck-in and buddy systems;
In-personassessments for vulnerable persons and groups;
Strategiesand recommendations for staying cool at work;
Designatedpublic cooling shelters; and
Cancellationpolicies for outdoor activities/events and travel.
TheCDC offers a dedicated site, “Extreme Heat and YourHealth,”that outlines three key components to staying safe in hot climates:
1. Staycool,
2. Stayhydrated, and
3. Stayinformed.
There are additionalresources for people aged 65 and older, people with chronic medical conditions, outdoor workers, and athletes. There is also anonline training for those with responsibility foroutdoor athletic training programs.
TheAmerican Red Cross also offers 10 tips for staying safe inextreme heat. During extreme heat events, safety precautions should consider thepossibility of power outages that eliminate access to air conditioning orelectrical fans. Emergency disaster kits should have sufficientpotable water and low salt food supplies and could include manual orbattery-powered, personal fans.
ForFurther Information
For additionalinformation on global health, please contact OSAC’s Global Health and Pandemic Analyst.
