Key TakeawaysThe CDC released a HeatRisk tool to help people monitor air quality and heat risk.Extreme heat can exacerbate chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease, and psychiatric disease.During extreme heat events and poor air quality, experts recommend staying indoors in a cool space and closing the windows to prevent pollutants and pollen from entering the home.

Key Takeaways

The CDC released a HeatRisk tool to help people monitor air quality and heat risk.Extreme heat can exacerbate chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease, and psychiatric disease.During extreme heat events and poor air quality, experts recommend staying indoors in a cool space and closing the windows to prevent pollutants and pollen from entering the home.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched a new tool to protect people from the health risks of ever-increasing temperatures.In 2023, there were 119,605 emergency room visits related to heat, 92% of which occurred between May and September.

The free tool, called the HeatRisk Dashboard, is designed to inform users about heat and air quality based on their location and to provide tips to protect them from extreme heat.

“It allows people to access important heat and health information in an easy-to-use, intuitive, mobile-friendly interface,” a CDC representative told Verywell. Users can access the tool on theCDC website.

How to Use the HeatRisk Dashboard

To use the dashboard, you’ll need to enter your zip code. Based on your geographic location, the tool will deliver personalized heat forecast information with indoor and outdoor protective actions to take, such as staying hydrated and cool.

Pulled from a forecasting tool, the tool relays your heat risk via a meter, ranging from no risk to extreme.

What Can the Air Quality Index Tell You?

According to the EPA, the air quality index functions as a yardstick, running between 0 and 500.If AQI falls between 0 and 50, air quality is considered good with little to no risk.

The higher the AQI values, the more risk it poses to people who are sensitive to air pollution. AQI values that reach or exceed 300 are considered hazardous and pose a danger to human health.

Children, pregnant people, older adults, and people who work outdoors are also susceptible to extreme heat, she added.

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Indoor Air Quality Matters, Too

While it can be tempting to open doors and windows for ventilation, experts advise against doing so during extreme heat events and when air quality is poor. That’s because there’s an increase in pollutants and pollen.

Because mold and dampness can trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms, it’s also important to monitor indoor humidity levels to keep mold at bay.

To prevent mold growth, Dilger recommends using dehumidifiers to keep humidity levels between 30% and 50%, as well as keeping air conditioning units and air ducts clean.

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What to Do During an Extreme Heat Event

When heat levels are considered extreme, Dilger said it’s important to stay indoors with air conditioning if you can.

If you don’t have air conditioning, the CDC recommends locating acooling center near you.

“Even a few hours in a cool location can lower your risk for health impacts from heat,” said the CDC representative. “Fans may not cool you off when it is this hot outside.”

In addition to staying inside, Dilger recommends:

What This Means For YouIf you have a chronic condition or are susceptible to pollutants and extreme heat, experts recommend staying indoors, watching for humidity levels, and staying hydrated. If you don’t have air conditioning, you can locate acooling center near you.

What This Means For You

If you have a chronic condition or are susceptible to pollutants and extreme heat, experts recommend staying indoors, watching for humidity levels, and staying hydrated. If you don’t have air conditioning, you can locate acooling center near you.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HeatRisk Dashboard.Vaidyanathan A, Gates A, Brown C, Prezzato E, Bernstein A.Heat-related emergency department visits - United States, May-September 2023.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(15):324-329. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7315a1AirNow.Air Quality Index (AQI) basics.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HeatRisk Dashboard.Vaidyanathan A, Gates A, Brown C, Prezzato E, Bernstein A.Heat-related emergency department visits - United States, May-September 2023.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(15):324-329. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7315a1AirNow.Air Quality Index (AQI) basics.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HeatRisk Dashboard.Vaidyanathan A, Gates A, Brown C, Prezzato E, Bernstein A.Heat-related emergency department visits - United States, May-September 2023.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(15):324-329. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7315a1AirNow.Air Quality Index (AQI) basics.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HeatRisk Dashboard.

Vaidyanathan A, Gates A, Brown C, Prezzato E, Bernstein A.Heat-related emergency department visits - United States, May-September 2023.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(15):324-329. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7315a1

AirNow.Air Quality Index (AQI) basics.

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