Resources

Weather, Heat Index, and Air Quality

• Check your local news or radio stations for weather forecasts or check weather online at sites like weather.gov
• Get air quality advisories from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection
• Check the heat index forecast from the National Weather Service
• Learn more about the heat index

Information about People Who May Have Trouble in the Heat

• Older Adults
  • US CDC Heat Stress in the Elderly
  • National Institute on Aging Fact Sheet
  • In Spanish
• Infants, Children and Youth
  • Keeping Kids Safe Tipsheet - Maine CDC (PDF)
  • Tips to Beat The Heat - Maine CDC (PDF)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Policy Statement
  • U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention Brochure: Play It Safe in the Sun: A Guide for Parents
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: SunWise Kids
• Workers
  • OSHA Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers
  • OHSA Heat Safety App (Calculates Heat Index and provides risk estimate; English/Spanish)
  • OSHA Information on Using the Heat Index: A Guide for Employers
  • NIOSH Heat Stress Information
  • CDC Heat Toolkit for Outdoor Workers
  • OSHA Standards For Heat Stress
  • NIOSH Fact Sheet: Protecting Yourself from Heat Stress
  • NIOSH Fact Sheet: Protecting Yourself from Sun Exposure
  • OSHA Heat Stress Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • OSHA Quick Card on Heat  (PDF)

Community Resources about Preparing for a Heat Event

• Check out this Heat Events Guidebook for Communities from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Other Health and Safety Things to Think about When it is Hot

• This fact sheet (PDF*) from the Environmental Protection Agency describes skin cancer in Maine.
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have more information on protecting yourself from skin cancer .
• Check out the Sunscreen for Your Sun Day brochure (PDF*) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• See this web site for Information about choosing the appropriate sunglasses for children
• More on food safety during a power outage from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• The Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Savers web page has suggestions to improve energy efficiency during hot weather. Check out their tips on cooling your home and how to conduct an energy audit .
• Tips on healthy swimming.