I would like to ask you a question. Did you know May 29th is National Heat Awareness Day #HeatAwarenessDay? I didn’t know it was but being outside and running errands this morning I can understand why it’s National Heat Awareness Day. Can you understand why? You would think living in a Apartment the Swimming Pool would be open but no, of course it isn’t so we all stuck inside fighting the heat. Which is wrong when you rent a Apartment like Appian Way. Which comes with a Swimming Pool that the owners should make sure it works. Or they should give you a discount on your rent or find a Swimming Pool for you to use. Shouldn’t they?
National Heat Awareness Day is observed annually on the last Friday of May, which falls on May 30thh this year. National Heat Awareness Day is an effort by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Weather Service to alert workers, employers, and the public at large about the preventable health dangers related to heat, in order to reduce the overall rate of illnesses and deaths caused by it.
National Heat Awareness Day was specially founded as a reminder that many outdoor workers or laborers are at risk of serious heat-induced conditions like heat exhaustion, dehydration, heatstroke, and even death. I would like to bring you tips on how spreading awareness about these conditions and their prevention can help mitigate such unnecessary medical emergencies.
National Heat Awareness Day was founded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Weather Service, an agency of the U.S. Federal Government. While there is no record of its first observance, the importance of National Heat Awareness Day and what it stands for is why we are including it.
The reality is that every year, in the U.S. alone, people suffer and die from heat-induced illnesses, which could easily have been prevented with the right protective measures and intervention. Groups that are especially vulnerable to heat are outdoor workers including farmers and manual laborers, young children, elderly adults, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women.
Heatwaves have been on the rise over the past few decades, with a definite correlation to climate change and the crisis of global warming. In the U.S. itself, recent history shows the shocking death toll due to heatwaves. While various measures are being taken to adapt to rising temperatures and humidity, there is a need for awareness to be spread in order to mitigate the losses.
Therefore, National Heat Awareness Day was created in order to spread awareness to overcome the high-temperature-related issues. National Heat Awareness Day is also observed to encourage the consumption of water to avoid heat-related illness. Americans seem to still underestimate the health risks related to conditions of extreme heat or temperatures, even though it’s the deadliest weather condition in the Country.
With factors like pollution causing temperatures to rise earlier each year, the onslaught of the heat of Summer is coming faster every year. For this reason, it is imperative that the Nation at large begins to sit up and take notice of the fact that there are many groups in need of protection from an unexpected killer.
LET’S OBSERVE NATIONAL HEAT AWARENESS DAY
- Dehydration is one of the most preventable things, which, if left ignored, can lead to more serious health issues. Therefore it is recommended by experts everywhere that eight glasses of water a day is a good standard to maintain. Not only does your body stay hydrated, but water also helps flush toxins out of the body. Go grab that bottle of water and get to chugging and make sure everyone your with has there own bottle of water.
- There are many online campaigns and grassroots petitions being signed to support the need for outdoor workers to have adequate laws to protect them from heat and other work- environment-related health hazards. Read up and get involved, because every voice does matter!
- With powerful tools like social media at our disposal, we can rally our communities IRL And also virtually to spread awareness about the very real risks of heat-related medical conditions that could affect anyone at any time. Train yourself and someone you know to recognize the signs and take action. A little bit can go a long way.
TIPS ON BEATING THE HEAT THIS SUMMER
- Wear loose-fitting and lightweight clothing, made with breathable fabrics like cotton.
- The importance of Sunscreen as protection against the Sun is never going to get old.
- Avoid stepping out into the Sun during its peak hours, especially without protection.
- Leave the intense workouts for early mornings or nights, and take it easy during the midday heat.
WHY NATIONAL HEAT AWARENESS DAY IS IMPORTANT
- Several years ago, OSHA began a Heat Illness Prevention Campaign to spread awareness about the dangers of working in conditions of extreme heat. Their petition for change could be boiled down to three simple demands for workers — shade, rest, and water. The onus falls on employers to ensure that their workers are receiving these basic requirements and are being protected from extreme heat and other hazardous conditions.
- By reinforcing such basic preventative measures, National Heat Awareness Day brings the reality of things we take for granted including water to the forefront and makes us more mindful of our own health.
- Heatwaves and heat-related health issues are on the rise all over the world, thanks to climate change. Therefore the message of National Heat Awareness Day is relevant to people across the globe, especially as many Nations do not even have access to resources like drinking water and electricity. National Heat Awareness Day opens one’s eyes to the larger realities of social injustice and climate change.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
