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Sizzling summer weather brings its own kind of dangers

It's midway through June and we've already had a taste of hot, humid weather. Is this what we can expect for the rest of the summer of 2016?

No one knows for sure right now, but what we do know is that we can prepare ourselves for the type of heat that we know can come our way. According to the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year.

Historically, heat waves have had a devastating effect on people. In 1995 more than 700 deaths in the Chicago area were attributed to heat, making it the deadliest weather event in Chicago history. In August 2003, a record heat wave in Europe claimed an estimated 50,000 lives. And in 2015, as many as 2,500 people died during a heat wave in India. We are seeing blistering temperatures this month in the American Southwest.

The Kane County Office of Emergency Management and Kane County Health Department monitor potential extreme heat conditions in the county and will take action based on extreme heat alerts issued by the National Weather Service.

Heat alerts will be posted on the Kane County Health Department's website at www.kanehealth.com.

In addition, air quality alerts are often issued during high heat days.

For up-to-date advisories on air pollution action days, check kanehealth.com/air.htm where alert days are also posted.

Four terms to remember:

• Heat Outlook Excessive Heat Outlook:

Using a combination of temperature and humidity over a certain number of days the Excessive Heat Outlook is designed to provide an indication of areas where people and animals may need to take precautions against the heat during the months of May to November.

• Heat Watch Excessive Heat Outlook:

Using a combination of temperature and humidity over a certain number of days the Excessive Heat Outlook is designed to provide an indication of areas where people and animals may need to take precautions against the heat during the months of May to November.

• Heat Advisory Heat Advisory:

Issued within 12 hours of the onset of a heat index of at least 105 degrees F, but less than 115 degrees F, for less than three hours per day, or nighttime lows above 80 degrees for two consecutive days.

• Heat Warning Excessive Heat Warning:

Issued within 12 hours of the onset of a heat index of at least 105 degrees for more than three hours per day for two consecutive days, or heat index more than 115 degrees F for any period of time.

Learn more about Kane County's heat program at www.kanehealth.com/heat.htm.

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