USA: Lexington Kentucky extreme heat plan 2025

This document is the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Incident-Specific Plan for an Extreme Heat Event. Interest in the impact of heat on human health has increased dramatically in recent years. There is a strong consensus in the scientific community that climate change is occurring and that average global temperatures will rise substantially during this century. Global warming is anticipated to increase the number of air pollution and heat-related deaths worldwide.  Extreme heat impacts different people in different ways, depending on their age, underlying medical conditions and how well they are acclimatized to hot conditions. Exposure to extreme heat over prolonged periods of time without access to cooling intervals (such as typically occur at night) makes it hard for the human body to maintain a consistent internal temperature. This stress can result in a rise of internal temperature and/or increased stress on respiratory and circulatory systems. Either circumstance can result in health problems or death. Even a short break from the extreme heat helps reduce this stress. As a result, cities around the world, such as Lexington Kentucky, are moving to develop heat-health warning systems and public heat action plans.