These two new (and free!) tools can help you stay safe & cool this summer
As summer reaches its peak in Iowa, two new tools to assist in heat risk monitoring have become available to the public.
Created by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these resources were created with the goal of safeguarding both students and adults in local communities from the potential dangers of warmer seasonal weather.
The two new tools, HeatRisk dashboard and Heat and Health Tracker, aim to provide a better understanding of the current heat conditions in Iowa and throughout the United States. The administration, nurses, and teachers of school districts, along with families within the community, are all urged to utilize these resources to stay informed and safeguard students and themselves during the hotter months.
“Heat events can escalate the risks for illness and injury, so staying informed on current conditions is crucial for the safety of students and staff,” explained Melissa Walker, administrative consultant for the Iowa Department of Education. She further emphasized that these resources would be beneficial for Iowa schools and families not only during the summer break but also when students return to sports activities and physical education classes in the next academic year.
The HeatRisk dashboard allows users to input their zip code to access local information on current air quality conditions and to plan for specific risks. It visually demonstrates the risk hot weather days pose to individuals’ health.
On the other hand, the Heat and Health Tracker provides data on daily and weekly heat-related illnesses for local areas, in addition to offering information on heat exposure, related health outcomes, and strategies to protect people during hot weather.
For more information on the two heat-related sites and other school health resources, contact Melissa Walker at melissa.walker@iowa.gov.
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