Heat is considered a silent killer, affecting the lives and health of people across the United States. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 702 heat-related deaths occur each year in the country.

Certain groups should exercise particular caution during hot weather conditions. City-dwellers, residents of upper floors in tall buildings, and those living in heat-prone regions are most at risk for heat-related illness. Individuals with mobility issues or health conditions, as well as the elderly and very young, also require special attention during periods of high heat and humidity.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have partnered to raise awareness among outdoor workers and their employers during excessive heat events. NWS incorporates specific outdoor worker safety precautions when issuing heat advisories and warnings.

Prevention of heat-related illness is crucial regardless of occupation or leisure activities. It is important to pay close attention to heat advisories or warnings issued for one's community.

For more information on planning for periods of extreme heat, understanding what actions to take or avoid during extreme heat, and recognizing the warning signs of heat-related illness, visit heat.gov. To assess personal heat risk, individuals can use the National Weather Service’s experimental HeatRisk tool. This color-numeric-based index provides a forecast risk of heat-related impacts over a 24-hour period. The HeatRisk index supplements official NWS heat products by offering risk guidance for decision-makers and heat-sensitive populations who need to take action at levels below current NWS product thresholds.

Data plays a critical role in understanding how climate change affects Americans nationwide. More insights can be found in the Commerce blog: The Importance of Data in Combatting Extreme Heat and Climate Change.