The heat is on

UF Health Podcasts

Glenn Frey [Fry] said it best: “The heat is on.”

If you walk outside on the street these days, you’ll certainly have noticed the temperatures are headed up.

Due to climate change, the warmer weather lasts longer each year. To help you prepare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service joined forces to create an interactive online tool called HeatRisk. This online dashboard helps people understand how the heat in your area affects your health and what you can do to protect yourself.

Instead of measuring by degrees, the forecast uses a five-level color scale — ranging from no risk to extreme risk — to indicate your health risk. The tool uses indicators such as heat index, air quality and humidity to offer guidance on how to handle the weather. Higher temperatures can lead to heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn and even heat rash.

Infants and children up to 4 years of age, people 65 and older, and those who are overweight or ill and take certain medications are most at risk from heat.

Planning for the heat is the best thing you can do to stay safe. Be sure to drink enough water and spend time in an air-conditioned room after your time outdoors. Also, consider lowering your body temperature with a cold shower.

And don’t forget your furry friends. Generally, when it’s 86 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, your dog is at risk for heatstroke. For some dogs, the threshold is even lower.

Keep your pets indoors as much as possible during the summer. If you must keep them outdoors, carve out a shady place and make sure their water bowl is filled. If it’s hot for you, they are definitely a hot dog.