CDC Issues Guidelines On Heat Protection Ahead Of Hot Summer Travel

Last summer, many popular travel destinations sweltered in heat waves, including areas of Europe that had record temperatures. In fact, some European destinations, including the south of Spain, are already breaking records for a particular date of the year.

Meanwhile, those traveling within the US can also face intense heat during their vacation. However, families can’t really work around summer to have a cooler vacation, due to school breaks.

For those who cannot avoid extreme heat this summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched a new Heat and Health Initiative to protect Americans from the dangers of heat exposure.

CDC releases heat protection guidelines for the summer of 2024

Many travelers have already booked their summer vacations, many choosing locations that are known for hot summer weather. In order to protect Americans, the CDC has now released its new Heat and Health Initiative for the summer of 2024.

The CDC has partnered with the National Weather Service (NWS) for a new initiative with three resources. Meanwhile, these resources provide proactive measures that families and other travelers can take to protect their health in the heat. Moreover, the key measures people can take include staying cool, remaining hydrated and knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat strokes.

CDC Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH warned in a statement:

Heat can impact our health, but heat-related illness and death are preventable. We are releasing new heat and health tools and guidance to help people take simple steps to stay safe in the heat.

HeatRisk Forecast Tool

The CDC and NWS have created the HeatRisk Forecast Tool for travelers, which offers a seven-day heat forecast nationwide. The tool reveals when temperatures are likely to reach levels that could be harmful to their health.

Moreover, the CDC and NWS have also launched a HeatRisk Dashboard, which combines the data from the HeatRisk Forecast Tool with other localized information. This information relates to local air quality and how Americans can protect themselves when temperatures soar during busy summer travel.

Meanwhile, another aspect of the new CDC/NWS clinical guidance is that it helps clinicians and health service providers to keep at-risk patients safe as the temperatures rise.

Emergency department data from summer 2023

The CDC recently reported that daily emergency department visits related to heat-related illness peaked in several regions of the country during the hottest months in 2023. Moreover, the visits remained exceedingly high for an extended period of time.

The CDC has released a video on YouTube giving information about the HeatRisk Forecast Tool and HeatRisk Dashboard. Watch the video included here for more information and stay safe while on vacation in the hot summer months.

Readers can also visit the CDC’s website for more information about keeping their cool in the summer of 2024.