Protecting Vulnerable Populations from Acquiring Heat Related Illnesses During Extreme Heat Events(50m Lecture)

There is a need to provide Environmental Health or Public Health professionals with tools to help them analyze “Extreme Heat Events.” Radio and TV stations broadcast warnings about high “HEAT INDEX” levels that kill hundreds of people a year across the United States.The National Weather Service developed the “HEAT INDEX” chart which takes into consideration the effect of temperature and moisture in the air on the human body. Public Health Officials warn the public as to which precautions to take to protect themselves during these high ”HEAT INDEX” events from developing heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat strokes and other heat related illnesses including death. Advisories are issued for people to stay out of the sun as much as possible, drink plenty or water, and use their air conditioners. For those without air conditioning, the public is reminded that they could visit their friends, neighbors and/or families or go to a shopping mall, a public library, a movie theater, an open church, a public museum, or a supermarket that’s air conditioned. This is OK for the general population who are free to move around at will, however there are some restricted movement populations such as those in jails and prisons,including death row, that are beginning to garner attention especially in state and Federal courts. In order to know what the “HEAT INDEX” is and what precautions to take to prevent heat related illnesses, one must know what the temperature and humidity levels are in these confined areas. If such readings are not being recorded at these facilities, how can legal cases be brought to the courts to protect the health of the inmates? Often there is a need to show retroactively what the temperature and humidity levels were on various dates and times but how does one acquire such information? How do you properly use the "HEAT INDEX" in court cases? You will be provided with the appropriate answers during this presentation including how to acquire data and how to get this data entered into the court records through the testimony of environmental and public health professionals.