Philadelphia has new, two-tiered heat warnings

Amid sweltering heat and humidity, the city of Philadelphia has revised how it handles hot weather warnings.

Dr Steven Alles of the Philadelphia Health Department says after significant research on the topic, the city has turned the hot weather warning system into two a two-stage process.

“The first is heat caution, and that’s what we are in now and that’s consistent with the National Weather Service’s declaration of a heat advisory,  the second level the top level is a heat emergency because then a number of city services go into effect,” he said.

That includes sending out crews to check on critical groups that the city has mapped that could face health issues.

“We’re really trying to focus more of these efforts in areas where we have more seniors, and people who live alone and people who have chronic health conditions or a combination of those folks,” he said.

Alles says in any inclement weather it’s good to check in on the sick and the elderly to make sure they are coping OK.