LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) along with the Office of Economic Development (OED) launched a Heat Safety Awareness Campaign, aimed at highlighting the health and well-being of all Hawai‘i residents and its visitors.
Similar to the rest of the planet, Hawai‘i isn’t immune to heat-related health issues. The campaign will run through September, or enough time to ensure people throughout the Hawaiian Island chain are aware of all heat-related issues, symptoms, as well as available resources.
The Heat Safety Awareness Campaign will focus on two main components:
The first will consist of informational heat brochures, while the second will be through social media outreach so that the message can be shared and available to everyone.
“Hawai‘i has some of the highest average annual relative humidity in the country,” said Ana Española, OED Sustainability Coordinator. “When it is too humid, our bodies have a harder time cooling down, which can lead to heat-related illness.”
The brochures will offer practical tips on staying cool, recognizing symptoms of heat-related illnesses and emergency contact information specific to each county. These informational brochures will be widely distributed in public spaces, health centers and community events across the state.
The social platform campaign will leverage Instagram and Facebook to reach a bigger audience. Each county and DOH will share collaborative posts on topics, including heat-related illnesses, tips for identifying heat exhaustion and highlighting vulnerable groups that are more prone to heat risks.
Additional methods to maintain cool on Kaua‘i include: Drinking plenty of water, seeking out cool spaces, wearing lightweight and loose fitting clothes, taking a cool shower or bath and never leaving children or pets in a hot car.
The public is encouraged to participate in this statewide campaign by staying informed and sharing this important message with the community and loved ones.
For more information and resources regarding the Heat Safety Awareness Campaign, follow OED’s Instagram @kauai_forward or visit www.heat.gov for more resources regarding heat illnesses, extreme heat and how to prepare.
For more information about the campaign, please contact Ana Espanola at (808) 241-1968 or aespanola@kauai.gov.
