6-1-22 heat awareness day

While summer months mean fun in the sun, there could be danger if you stay outside too long on extra hot and humid days.  Gov. Tony Evers has declared June 1 as Heat Awareness Day in Wisconsin.  Fond du Lac County Emergency Management director Bobbie Hicken says never leave pets or children in a vehicle on hot days.  Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and find a cool place to stay if your home does not have air conditioning.  Preliminary data from DHS shows nine people died in Wisconsin from May 1 to Sept. 30, 2021 due to heat-related causes, while another 803 people were treated in emergency departments.   Climate change is bringing more frequent extreme elevated heat events to the state.  The past two decades were the warmest on record for Wisconsin, and as a result has negatively impacted more Older adults, young children, sick, and overweight individuals are more susceptible to illness during extreme heat events. Outdoor workers and active people of all ages are also at risk of heat-related illnesses when temperatures climb and combine with high humidity.