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Beat the Summer Heat

Release Date: 06/21/2006
Contact Information: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov; Contacto en español: Lina Younes, 2020-564-9924 / younes.lina@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - Wednesday, June 21, 2006) Few Americans are aware that there are a number of easy steps that can be taken to protect against the number one weather-related cause of death in the United States – excessive heat. Most of these deaths are preventable. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing a guide to help people understand heat-related health impacts and how to cope with excessive heat.

EPA's Excessive Heat Events Guidebook, developed with a range of federal and local officials and national experts, summarizes heat-related health impacts and highlights best practices that can save lives. The guidebook also provides public-assistance options for emergency managers, state and local officials, and meteorologists.

The guidebook highlights simple actions that individuals can take to protect themselves from abnormally high heat events, such as:
· Seeking air conditioned environments
· Drinking plenty of nonalcoholic fluids
· Checking on vulnerable people who may need help, including the elderly, ill, homeless, or
socially-isolated individuals
· Wearing loose-fitting, light-colored clothes

Excessive Heat Events Guidebook: http://epa.gov/heatisland/about/heatguidebook.html