[nws-changes] 20090521: Excessive heat guidance

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: [nws-changes] 20090521: Excessive heat guidance
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 09:57:13 -0600

NOUS41 KWBC 211510
PNSWSH

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
1110 AM EDT THU MAY 21 2009

TO:       SUBSCRIBERS:
         -FAMILY OF SERVICES
         -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
         -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
         -NOAAPORT
         OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:     ELI JACKS
         CHIEF...FIRE AND PUBLIC WEATHER SERVICES BRANCH

SUBJECT:  EXCESSIVE HEAT GUIDANCE FOR 2009 SEASON

THE OFFICIAL START OF SUMMER IS ABOUT A MONTH AWAY BUT IT IS NOT
UNUSUAL TO EXPERIENCE EXTREME HEAT BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
IN FACT DURING THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL 2009...THE NORTHEAST
STATES EXPERIENCED AN EARLY SEASON HEAT WAVE AND EXCEPTIONALLY
WARM RECORD-SETTING TEMPERATURES DOMINATED THE SOUTHEAST. NWS
WANTS TO REMIND YOU OF AVAILABLE HEAT RELATED ADVISORY AND
WARNING PRODUCTS...AND ASSOCIATED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS...FOR THE
2009 SUMMER SEASON.

UNUSUALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES CAN ENDANGER LIVES AND HAVE ADVERSE
EFFECTS ON HEALTH. DURING THE AUGUST 2007 HEAT WAVE ACROSS MUCH
OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN U.S. MORE THAN
50 HEAT-RELATED DEATHS OCCURRED...ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL
CLIMATIC DATA CENTER. HEAT IS A SILENT KILLER THAT DOES NOT HAVE
THE SAME VISUAL IMPACT AS OTHER WEATHER HAZARDS SUCH AS
TORNADOES AND HURRICANES. HOWEVER MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN TO HELP
AVOID THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT.

BASED ON 10-YEAR AVERAGES COMPILED BY NWS OFFICE OF CLIMATE...
WATER...AND WEATHER SERVICES AND THE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA
CENTER...EXCESSIVE HEAT IS THE TOP WEATHER-RELATED KILLER...
ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT 26 PERCENT OF THE FATALITIES DURING THE
PERIOD 1998 TO 2007...MORE THAN THE PERCENTAGE OF LIGHTNING...
TORNADOES...AND WINTER STORMS COMBINED /ABOUT 22 PERCENT/ FOR
THAT SAME PERIOD.

NWS COLLABORATES WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS...
ACADEMIA...THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY...AND THE MEDIA TO CREATE AND
DELIVER NEW AND ENHANCED EXCESSIVE HEAT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT HEAT WAVES AND HEAT SAFETY CAN BE
FOUND ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/:

    HTTP://NOAAWATCH.GOV/THEMES/HEAT.PHP

SOME OF THE TOPICS COVERED ON THIS WEB PAGE INCLUDE HEAT SAFETY
TIPS...HEAT DISORDERS...AND FIRST AID TIPS PROVIDED BY:

-CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION /CDC/
-AMERICAN RED CROSS
-ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY /EPA/
-U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY /DHS/
-NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/

DETAILS ON THE HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT
ARE ALSO FOUND ON THIS SITE.

ELDERLY PERSONS... SMALL CHILDREN... CHRONIC INVALIDS... THOSE
ON CERTAIN MEDICATIONS OR DRUGS AND PERSONS WITH WEIGHT AND
ALCOHOL PROBLEMS ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT
REACTIONS... ESPECIALLY DURING HEAT WAVES IN AREAS WHERE
EXCESSIVE HEAT IS RARE.

THE FOLLOWING HEAT WAVE SAFETY TIPS ARE RECOMMENDED:

1. SLOW DOWN. STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE REDUCED...
  ELIMINATED OR RESCHEDULED TO THE COOLEST TIME OF THE DAY.

2. DRESS IN LIGHTWEIGHT LIGHT-COLORED CLOTHING TO REFLECT
  HEAT AND SUNLIGHT.

3. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER OR OTHER NON-ALCOHOLIC FLUIDS.
  DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

4. DO NOT TAKE SALT TABLETS UNLESS DIRECTED TO BY A PHYSICIAN.

5. SPEND MORE TIME IN AIR-CONDITIONED PLACES.

6. AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE SUN.

7. NEVER LEAVE ANY PERSON OR PET IN A CLOSED...PARKED VEHICLE.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT EVENTS GUIDEBOOK...DEVELOPED BY THE EPA IN
2006 IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NWS...CDC...AND DHS...PROVIDES
GUIDANCE THAT COMMUNITIES CAN USE TO DEVELOP MITIGATION PLANS.
THIS GUIDEBOOK IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/:

    HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/HEATISLAND/ABOUT/HEATGUIDEBOOK.HTML

INFORMATION ON CURRENT HEAT AND OTHER WEATHER HAZARDS NATIONWIDE
IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/:

    HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV

EDUCATE YOURSELF AND THE PUBLIC ON THE DANGERS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT
AND WHAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO TAKE TO AVOID HEAT-RELATED
ILLNESSES OR DEATHS. YOU MAY HELP SAVE LIVES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION...PLEASE CONTACT:

JANNIE G. FERRELL
JANNIE.G.FERRELL@xxxxxxxx
301-713-1867 EXT 135

 HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM

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