As hot weather events occur more frequently and with greater intensity, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed the Heat and Health Initiative to protect people living the United States from heat-related illnesses and exposure. This CDC announcement details three new resources designed to help community decision makers, healthcare providers, and the general public to decide on appropriate protective actions when faced with heat forecasts and hot weather events. The Heat and Health Initiative resources include the:

• NWS HeatRisk Forecast Tool, which identifies potential heat risks over a seven day period and developed in partnership between the CDC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration‘s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS);
• CDC HeatRisk Dashboard, which allows the general public to find heat forecast information using zip codes;
• CDC Heat Health: For Healthcare Professionals, which provides clinical guidance to healthcare providers when communicating with patients about the risks of heat and its impact on health during hot weather.

For more information, visit the HSDL‘s In Focus on Extreme Heat or resources related to hot weather events.