Mygradebook Atlas Encyclopedia Almanacs Dictionary About Learning Network About Our Partners About Our Sponsors Hot Weather Health Introduction by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Summer heat waves bring unusually high temperatures that may last for days or weeks. In the summer of 1980, a severe heat wave hit the United States, and nearly 1,700 people lost their lives from heat-related illness. Each year, high temperatures put people at risk.
People suffer heat-related illness when the body's temperature control system is overloaded.
The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn't enough. In such cases, a person's body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs. Several factors affect the body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather.