Louisiana Occupational Heat-Related Illness Prevention Program
Aiming to protect Louisiana workers and communities from the dangers of heat through data, research, collaboration, and education.
View our heat-related illness emergency department visits and deaths dashboards.
Explore DataProgram Goals
Improve heat-related illness prevention and adaptation practices for workers and employers
Improve individual and community-level resilience to extreme heat
Why is this program important?
Warmer temperatures are of concern in Louisiana because we have some of the highest temperatures in the nation. The effects of heat are compounded by high humidity. Sweat evaporates more slowly on humid days, reducing the body’s ability to cool.
Workers in physically demanding occupations are at risk for heat-related illness, injury, or fatality. Exposure to extreme heat also decreases workers' productivity and ability to work. These health and economic impacts have an enormous toll on workers, their families, and communities.
Program Activities
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Data
We are developing a surveillance system that tracks heat-related illnesses, injuries, and fatalities in Louisiana workers and residents.
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Research
We are conducting and supporting research projects to analyze the impact of heat on Louisiana workers and communities.
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Collaborate
We are working with local, state, and national partners to study heat-related health impacts in Louisiana.
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Educate
- Our team is training Louisiana workers, employers, and community members how to prevent heat-related illness.
- We are also providing specialized training to Louisiana health care workers on the identification, treatment, and prevention of heat-related health conditions.
Resources
Publications & Reports
- Heat-Related Emergency Department Visits in Louisiana: Review of Syndromic Surveillance Data for April through October 2023, March 2024
- Heat-Related Illness in Louisiana: Review of Emergency Department and Hospitalization Data from 2010-2020, March 2024, v2
- Heat-Related Illness in New Orleans: Review of Emergency Department Data from 2010-2020, March 2023
- Heat-Related Mortality in Louisiana, 2023, March 2025, v2
- Heat-Related Illness in Louisiana's Region 7: Review of Emergency Department Data from 2010-2020, May 2024
- Heat-Related Illness in Region 2: Capital Area: Review of Emergency Department Data from 2010-2020, September 2024
- Heat-Related Illness in Region 8: Northeast Louisiana: Review of Emergency Department Data from 2010-2020, October 2024
- Louisiana Health Alert Message: Extreme Heat Poses Serious Risk of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke, August 2023
- In Harm’s Way: Hurricane Ida’s Impact on Socially Vulnerable Communities. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 2022
- Distribution of Extreme Heat Days across Louisiana. Louisiana Morbidity Report, Environmental and Occupational Edition, 2019
- Occupational Heat-Stress Illness Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations in Louisiana and its Climate Divisions, 2010-2016. Louisiana Morbidity Report, Environmental and Occupational Edition, 2019
- Heat-Stress Illness and Mortality in Louisiana. Louisiana Morbidity Report, Environmental and Occupational Edition, 2019
- Teaming Up with Local and State Agencies to Protect Louisiana’s Residents and Visitors from Extreme Heat. Louisiana Morbidity Report, Environmental and Occupational Edition, 2019
- Occupational Heat-Related Illness Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations in the Southeast Region, 2007-2011. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2015
Toolkit for Employers and Workers: Heat Illness Prevention
- Heat Illness Prevention | What Employers Can do to Protect Workers from Heat: A guide to core elements of employer heat prevention activities.
- Heat Illness Prevention | What Workers Need to Know: A guide to the core elements of worker trainings.
- Heat Illness Prevention | Water, Rest and Shade: Details about the three essential prevention elements.
- Heat Illness: Know how to recognize the symptoms and respond to heat illness.
- Employer’s Daily Checklist: Use this to reinforce trainings and safe work practices
Fact Sheets
- Beat The Heat: Checklist For Older Adults
- Working In Extreme Heat: What Employers and Workers Need To Know
- Heat And Health: What You Need To Know
- Generator Safety Tips
- Heat-Related Illness Syndromic Surveillance: Case Definition & Limitations
- Heat-Related Illness ICD Diagnostic Codes
- External Cause of Morbidity Work-Related ICD Codes
Useful Links
- Heat and Medications: Guidance for Clinicians and Patients
- Online Heat-Related Illness Training
- HEAT.gov - National Integrated Heat Health
- Heat Risk
- OSHA Heat Illness Prevention
- OSHA Heat Safety Tool
- Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program
- Global Heat Health Information Network