The National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have teamed up to launch the HeatRisk Tool, a seven-day heat forecast that helps individuals understand when temperatures may reach levels that can harm their health. This tool uses a color-coded scale from green to magenta to indicate levels of heat risk, with level 0 representing little to no risk and level 4 representing an extreme risk to individuals, health systems, and heat-sensitive industries.
In addition to forecasting heat levels, the HeatRisk Tool also provides information on local air quality. It offers guidance for clinicians on how to protect individuals most at risk of heat-related illnesses, such as pregnant women, children with asthma, and people with cardiovascular disease. As a journalist who has been reporting on health issues for over 20 years, Dr. Mallika Marshall believes that this tool is crucial in helping people understand and prepare for the impact that rising heat can have on their health.
Dr. Marshall is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who practices at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is currently caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and serves on staff at Harvard Medical School. In her role as a contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications, Dr. Marshall continues to provide valuable insights into the latest health trends and developments.
