Epidemiology: Occupational and Environmental
Summer Heat Emergency Data and Prevention Tips
Heat Health Alert System - Sign up here!
The Heat Health Alert System is a system the NC Climate and Health team uses to send out heat alerts via email, when the forecast is projected to reach unhealthy levels. You can sign up for heat health alerts and find additional information below.
Sign up for the heat health alert system here:
- Survey in English: https://survey.dph.ncdhhs.gov/surveys/?s=J3M84LKNAPN838AA
- Survey in Spanish: https://survey.dph.ncdhhs.gov/surveys/?s=4KANHM37AWA3LXW7
- North Carolina Heat Report: 2023 Summary (PDF, 600 KB)
- North Carolina Heat Report: 2022 Summary (PDF, 782 KB)
- North Carolina Heat Report: 2021 Summary (PDF, 779 KB)
- North Carolina Heat Report: 2020 Summary (PDF, 475 KB)
- Increase fluid intake
- Spend some time in cool or air-conditioned environment
- Reduce normal activity levels
- If you take medicines that can impede heat loss, speak with your physician before summer about how to stay safe (i.e. high blood pressure drugs, migraine drugs, allergy drugs, muscle spasm drugs, mental illness drugs, tranquilizers)
Many poor air quality days occur on hot days. Learn about the Air Quality Forecast System and how to protect your health. Get free air quality forecasts from Enviroflash.
- How to Beat the Heat Without AC (Graphic, English) (PDF, 221 KB)
- How to Beat the Heat Without AC (Graphic, Spanish) (PDF, 223 KB)
- Staying Cool During the Heat (Tri-Fold, English) (PDF, 739 KB)
- What to Do During Heat Health Alerts (Foldable Card, English) (PDF, 731 KB)
- What to Do During Heat Health Alerts (Foldable Card, Spanish) (PDF, 772 KB)
- Tips for Staying Cool and Wearing a Mask in Summer (Postcard, English) (PDF, 2.6 MB)
- Tips for Staying Cool and Wearing a Mask in Summer (Postcard, Spanish) (PDF, 2.7 MB)
- Stay COVID Safe During Summer Heat (Flyer, English) (PDF, 86 KB)
- Stay COVID Safe During Summer Heat (Flyer, Spanish) (PDF, 71 KB)
- CDC: Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety
- CDC Features: Extreme Heat: Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather
- EPA: Climate Change and Extreme Heat: What You Can Do to Prepare
- Health Officials Encourage Caution as Temperatures Rise
- Heat Safety Tips for Athletes and Coaches (PDF, 412 KB)
- How Older Adults Can Protect Themselves from Air Pollution and Heat (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- N.C. DHHS Provides Heat Tips for People with Diabetes
- New York Times Article: Heed These Tips to Prevent Overheating this Summer
- Proclamation by Governor Cooper: August 2018 is Heat Safety Awareness Month (PDF, 528 KB)
- Workplace Heat Safety Tips (PDF, 313 KB)
Last Modified: April 16, 2024