Forecasted August Heat Event - Resources for Vulnerable Populations 

Bottom line up front: The National Weather Service is predicting an increasing potential for a severe heat event next week, with several days approaching dangerously high temperatures, nearing 100 degrees. This is a forecast, and could change, but the key to saving lives from extreme heat is preparation.  

The great news about this early warning is that we can prepare our communities because heat-related illness and death is preventable.

Sharing the following information and guidance for communicating heat risk and safety measures for vulnerable populations

External Communications Strategy: Strongly encourage people to take precautions to reduce heat-related risks for themselves and others. Use communications resources like social media and news releases to promote heat forecasts, alerts, and related health implications. Recommend precautions for health and safety and share relevant information from community partners and local agencies. Encourage people to check on and protect others including vulnerable community members (e.g., older adults, people with illness, children, pets, etc.). Promote and leverage community lifelines and networks.

Additional General Resources:

• Hot Weather Precautions | Washington State Department of Health
• Extreme Heat | Washington State Department of Health
• Extreme Heat | Ready.gov
• Extreme Heat Preparedness Checklist (redcross.org)

Cooling Centers:  

• Washington 2-1-1 | Search (wa211.org)
• Cooling Resources | Gonzaga University

National Weather Service (NWS): 

• Forecast, updates - Pendleton, Portland, Seattle, Spokane
• HeatRisk
• Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Vulnerable Groups:  

• Protecting Vulnerable Groups from Extreme Heat | Natural Disasters and Severe Weather | CDC
• Heat and People with Chronic Medical Conditions | Natural Disasters and Severe Weather | CDC
• Heat and the Low Income | Natural Disasters and Severe Weather | CDC
• Heat and Infants and Children | Natural Disasters and Severe Weather | CDC
• Heat Stress in Older Adults | Natural Disasters and Severe Weather | CDC
• Managing Diabetes in the Heat | Diabetes | CDC

Access and Functional Needs Risk Communications:

• Access and Functional Needs Toolkit: Integrating a Community Partner Network to Inform Risk Communication Strategies | State and Local Readiness | CDC
• Access and Functional Needs Toolkit: Integrating a Community Partner Network to Inform Risk Communication Strategies (cdc.gov)
• HHS emPOWER Map - Updated monthly and displays the total number of at-risk electricity-dependent Medicare beneficiaries who rely on durable medical equipment and other essential healthcare services. Map users can select data to inform their emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation public health activities.
• Be Prepared for Extreme Heat | ACL Administration for Community Living

Medication Considerations:

• Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster | FDA
• Information Regarding Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products in an Emergency | FDA
• Emergency Preparedness - Keeping Medications Safe (Feb 2016) | FDA

Please refer your communities to the WA 2-1-1 map for updated information. Stay safe and check on your loved ones and neighbors.