Heat Safety Awareness Day – May 15, 2018

MEDIA ADVISORY

Heat Safety Awareness Day – May 15, 2018

ATLANTA, GA. (May 15, 2018) – Heat Safety Awareness Day will be observed on Tuesday, May 15th.
In an effort to better inform people and address commonly overlooked dangers of heat, particularly across
Georgia, the National Weather Service (NWS) and Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Agency are sponsoring an inaugural Heat Safety Awareness Day. We hope this can become an annual
occurrence each May, sometime before the summer season officially begins.
Heat is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities across the United States, on average killing more than
100 people each year. Numerous people and groups are at risk of heat-related illnesses, including children,
pregnant women, older adults, emergency responders, outdoor workers, and even athletes. Additionally,
people with certain medical/health conditions (i.e. high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory diseases) are
at greater risk.
In Georgia, during the summer months (June/July/August), daytime temperatures can soar into the 90s for

days and even weeks at a time. Add in the typical humidity, and it can feel unbearable at times, with heat-
index values getting into the 100-110 degree-range! Though “Georgians” may be used to this kind of heat

each year, your body can start physically shutting down when temperatures are just crossing the 90-degree
mark, especially when proper preparations for heat are avoided ahead of time.
Throughout this Heat Safety Awareness Day, you will learn more about the specific dangers related to heat,
who is most at risk and what you can do to be safe in the heat and prevent heat-related illnesses. Also, we
will provide basic information on meteorological products and terminology that best define and measure
extreme heat, including heat-specific Watches & Warnings, Heat Index, and Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature
(WBGT).
Please join us on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, as we highlight Heat Safety Awareness Day across the state of
Georgia. For additional information, including setting up potential interviews, please contact either Steve
Nelson or David Nadler at the NWS Peachtree City/Atlanta office. Contact information is included below.