Extreme Heat

Preventing Heat-related Illnesses

 Health Threats from Extreme Heat

Infants and young children

Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of extreme heat, and must rely on other people to keep them cool and hydrated.

• Never leave infants or children in a parked car. (Nor should pets be left in parked cars—they can suffer heat-related illness too.)
• Dress infants and children in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Seek medical care immediately if your child has symptoms of heat-related illness.

People with chronic medical conditions

People of any age with a chronic medical condition are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature. Also, they may be taking medications that can worsen the impact of extreme heat. People in this category need the following information:

• Drink more water than usual and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
• Learn about how any medications you take affects your body's ability to regulate temperature.
  
• Check on a friend or neighbor, and have someone do the same for you.
  
• Check the local news for health and safety updates regularly.
• Avoid use the stove or oven to cook -- it will make you and your house hotter.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Seek medical care immediately if you or someone you know experiences symptoms of heat-related illness.

People who are pregnant

Being outside can provide many health benefits. However, for pregnant people heat exposure can lead to health harms.

• These harms may include:
  

  • High blood pressure
  • Added stress on the heart
  Experiencing heat exhaustion, heat stroke or other heat-related illnesses earlier than non-pregnant people
  • Poor pregnancy outcomes and complications. At any term, heat is linked to preterm births, stillbirths, and low birthweight. During the first trimester heat may increase the risk of certain birth defects.
    
  
  

• Risk for poor outcomes increases with higher temperatures and longer heat exposure. As little as one day of high heat, may increase risk.

• If you are pregnant, there are ways to protect yourself and your baby:

  • Develop a Heat Action Plan.
    
  • Drink plenty of water Talk to your health care provider about ways to safely replace salts and minerals lost due to sweating.
    
  • Avoid strenuous activities and get rest.
    
  • Learn to recognize and respond to heat-stroke, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses.
  • Learn more about  heat and pregnancy through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Athletes and outdoor sports enthusiasts

People who exercise in extreme heat are more likely to become dehydrated and get heat-related illness. STOP all activity and get to a cool environment if you feel faint or weak.

• Drink more water than usual and take a drink before you are thirsty. Muscle cramping may be an early sign of heat-related illness.
  
• Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.
  
• Schedule workouts, practices, and activities earlier or later in the day when the temperature is cooler.
• Pace activity. Start activities slow and pick up the pace gradually. Remember it may take 1-2 weeks of exposure to high temperatures before your body fully adjusts.
  
• Monitor a teammate's condition, and have someone do the same for you.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package. 
• Seek medical care immediately if you or a teammate has symptoms of heat-related illness.
• Learn about Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) heat policies and guidance if you are an athlete, parent of an athlete, coach, trainer or athletics director. This guidance applies to members of OSAA, so if you engage in club sports, you may want to ask if they have similar policies.
  

People who work outdoors

People who work outdoors, whether as a source of income or for DIY home projects and landscaping, are more likely to become dehydrated. This makes them more likely to get heat-related illness. STOP all activity and get to a cool environment if you feel faint or weak.

Employment settings have rules, regulations and guidance related to heat. 

• Oregon has rules designed to help protect workers, generally and more specifically, from heat related illness. Workers can learn more about these rights through Oregon OSHA's Worker Rights page.
  
• Oregon OSHA also has videos available to share information about workers safety and complaint rights, Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) anti-retaliation rights in the following languages: Spanish, K’iche, Mam, Mixteco Alto, Q’anjob’al, Zapoteco.
  
• For more information, please visit the CDC's page on Heat Stress and visit OR-OSHA's heat stress page and see the OR-OSHA Resources section of this page.
  

For the average person working around their home or community:

• Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working. Take a drink BEFORE you are thirsty.
• Avoid alcohol or liquids containing large amounts of sugar.
  
• Schedule your work projects that may be outdoors or in hot spaces for earlier or later in the day to avoid midday heat. If you have DIY projects at home, consider moving work to the coolest parts of the day.
  
• Wear a brimmed hat and loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Spend time in air-conditioned buildings during breaks and after working in hot spaces.
• Encourage people working with you or helping you with home projects to take breaks to cool off and drink water.
• Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package.
  
• Seek medical care immediately if you or someone you are working with has symptoms of heat-related illness.
  

Heat and low income

• Drink more water than usual and take a drink BEFORE you are thirsty.
  
• If you have air conditioning, use it to keep your home cool.
• If you can't afford to use your air conditioning:
  • Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.
  • You can also contact Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help.
    
  • Learn more about utility bill payment assistance programs from Oregon Housing and Community Services.
    
• If you live outdoors, identify public spaces with air conditioning and check to see if cooling centers are available in your community. 211 INFO's Severe Weather Extreme Heat Cooling Center List, local service agencies and emergency management often have this information in locations where it is available.
  
• Check on a friend or neighbor, and have someone do the same for you.
• Seek medical care immediately if you have, or someone you know has, symptoms of heat-related illness.

 Fact Sheets

FAQ: Extreme Heat and Public Health

OR-OSHA Resources

• OR-OSHA Heat Stress Page: Provides information and links to resources on preventing heat stress for those working in hot environments.
• Federal OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Campaign: Educates employers and workers on the dangers of working in the heat and offers resources.
• Key requirements: Oregon OSHA's permanent rules for heat illness prevention: Oregon OSHA's rules for preventing heat illnesses apply to workplaces whenever an employee is working and the heat index equals or exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. More requirements apply when the heat index exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit (English, 05/09/2022).
  
• Reglas de prevención de enfermedades causadas por el calor Requisitos clave: Las normas de Oregon OSHA para prevenir enfermedades causadas por el calor se aplican a los lugares de trabajo cuando un empleado está trabajando y el índice de calor es igual o superior a 80 grados Fahrenheit. Se aplican más requisitos (consulte las Prácticas de altas temperaturas y planes médicos de emergencia, a continuación) cuando el índice de calor supera los 90 grados Fahrenheit (Spanish, 05/09/2022)
• Requisitos clave: norma de Oregon OSHA sobre las altas temperaturas ambientales en las viviendas laborales:  Key requirements: Addressing high ambient temperatures in labor housing (Spanish).
  
• Opciones para fijar el horario de pausas de descanso para la prevención de enfermedades causadas por el calor: Rest Break Schedule Options for Heat Illness Prevention (Spanish).
  
• Water temperatures referenced in Oregon OSHA's rules: Defines the various water temperature terms and requirements that ensure employers provide workers with cold, cool, tepid, warm, or hot water for drinking, bathing, hand washing, laundering clothes, etc. (English 11/20/2012)