The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a free on-line course titled “Recognizing, Preventing, and Treating Heat-Related Illness.” All you need to do is click on the link and begin. The course is designed not only for coaches, athletic trainers, teachers and school nurses but also students and parents.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Travelers
This particular link is geared toward travelers who may be exposed to extreme changes in temperature or climate when traveling abroad. The information is a bit clinical compared to most basic sites but may be particularly helpful to people going on vacation who may not realize their bodies need time to adjust to different climates. Travelers should be very careful after arriving at their destination not to engage in demanding physical activity right away. Exertional heat stroke, the site stresses, is life threatening and can result in irreversible organ damage to the brain, kidneys, heart, and liver.
The U.S. Department of Labor
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration provides comprehensive information about heat-related illnesses and guidelines for first aid. These links are geared primarily toward those whose jobs involve working outside in hot weather. The second of the two links provides visual symbols for the symptoms of heat-related illnesses. For those who have difficulty reading and comprehending the English language, these may be particularly helpful.
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Medline Plus provides succinct, clear information about heat emergencies, including causes, symptoms, prevention, and first aid. The site also tells people what not to do in the case of heat emergencies, such as not giving fever reducers, including aspirin and acetaminophen, and not giving salt tablets. The “don’ts” may be just as important as the “dos.”
The National Weather Service (NWS)
NWS is a component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is an Operating Unit of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The NWS provides weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.