FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jun. 24, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is reminding everyone in South Carolina to take measures to protect themselves from heat-related illnesses as temperatures rise across the state this week.
According to the National Weather Service’s HeatRisk Map, South Carolina will face its first prolonged period of extreme heat of the year this week, leading to major and extreme risk of heat-related impacts.
“As forecasts call for temperatures around 100 degrees, with even higher heat indexes, it’s critical that everyone take measures to protect themselves and their families from heat-related illnesses,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, interim DPH director. “These illnesses can be dangerous, and even deadly, but those risks can be greatly reduced by taking proper precautions.”
There are three stages of heat-related illness:
If you suspect someone is suffering from heat stroke, call 911 right away. Additionally, you should take immediate action to cool the person experiencing heat stroke down while waiting for emergency treatment by moving the person into shade or indoors, removing excess clothing and cooling the person using water, ice packs or cold, wet towels.
In 2021, a total of 1,600 U.S. heat-related deaths occurred in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In South Carolina in 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, 14 people died from exposure to excessive natural heat.
All heat-related deaths are preventable. DPH recommends the following tips to stay safe:
It is especially important that those working outdoors hydrate, seek shade when possible and wear appropriate clothing as well as sunscreen (broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher is recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology), sunglasses and hats that provide additional UV protection.
DPH also reminds families and pet owners to never leave children or pets in a parked car. In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up by 20 degrees and become deadly. DPH reminds residents to ACT to protect children from vehicular heatstroke:
Take care to avoid heat illness or injury in pets. Dogs or other animals should not be left alone in a car, even with the windows cracked. Additionally, use caution on hot pavement to avoid burns to unprotected paws. During times of extreme heat, it is even more important to make sure that pets outdoors have access to a shaded or cool indoor place to rest and that they always have access to plenty of cool, fresh water to drink.
You can find in-depth information related to heat illness on the DPH SC Tracking Heat Related Illness Dashboard. This dashboard includes interactive data pages that allow you to view data for the state and each county. There were 209 hospitalizations and 1,814 emergency department visits for heat-related illness in South Carolina from May to September in 2022.
Additional resources related to heat safety can be found online at www.heat.gov, and via the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and DPH.
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