With this summer featuring heat waves across the nation, including parts of Arizona experiencing what must have felt like an endless stream of days above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, attention has been again drawn back to the risks that extended exposure to hear can cause to people. With heat waves only expected to become more common in future years, and with more areas expected to become exposed to them on a regular basis, some scientists are suggesting moving forward with giving them names and classifications, much like the system used for naming tropical storms and hurricanes, according to Scientific American.
While some argue this process will create administrative burdens, due to the variations in heat waves based on length, intensity, and geography, it is also argued that providing these names and classifications will provide the public with the necessary warnings and reminders to take precautions, particularly for those at greater risk for heat stroke. A classification system could also help provide greater clarity as to the threat posed, rather than forcing people to rely on methods like the heat index measures, and offer guidance on what activities should be avoided, like with the air quality index.
Just as importantly, introducing such a naming and classification scheme could help encourage employers to better consider the risks heat poses to their employees, rather than stating it is the responsibility of employees to know their limits when working in extreme heat, according to Scientific American. Given the greater risks to those working outdoors, any such change could help to reduce the number of deaths caused nationwide by extreme heat, which already exceeds those caused annually by tornadoes and hurricanes.
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