The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS), has launched a new Heat and Health Initiative to protect Americans from heat exposure. The new initiative has three resources, which combined give proactive actions people can take to protect themselves: stay cool; stay hydrated; know the symptoms.

• The HeatRisk Forecast Tool, developed by CDC and NOAA, provides a seven-day national-scale heat forecast that tells you when temperatures reach levels that could harm health.

• CDC’s HeatRisk Dashboard serves as a portal into new heat resources for the nation and includes the HeatRisk Forecast Tool, details on local air quality, and actions to stay safe on hot days or days with poor air quality.

• CDC clinical guidance will enable clinicians and their patients to create personalized plans that will help ensure we can continue to safely enjoy warmer months. Even though heat can impact anyone’s physical and mental health, many groups may be particularly sensitive to heat and CDC’s guidance has focused initially on children with asthma, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular disease.