N.C. Disability Determination contributes to “Cool for Wake”

The Tar Heel Association of Disability Examiners (THADE) recently sponsored a very successful community service project involving the North Carolina Disability Determination Services staff from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Thirteen 20-inch box fans and $589 (the equivalent of 51 more fans) were collected, for a total of 64 fans that were donated to Wake County Human Services as part of the Cool for Wake program.

Cool for Wake is a fan distribution program that began in 1991 as a compliment to Warmth for Wake, Wake Human Services’ Community Resources winter weather relief program.

During the summer months, elderly people, small children, those with chronic respiratory ailments such as asthma, and people on certain types of medications are highly susceptible to the negative health effects of prolonged exposure to extreme heat. In fact, the EPA estimates that in an average summer more than 1,500 people nationwide will die as a result of heat exposure. This is more than the combined number of deaths from other summer weather events including hurricanes, lighting and tornadoes. Furthermore, as the cost of energy continues to rise, the economic burden of making ends meet continues to increase, and more individuals and families are at risk of being caught unprepared for heat waves.

The goal of Cool for Wake is to reach out to vulnerable people within the community to reduce the risks that this seemingly innocent and often forgotten factor brings into the households of many low-income families in Wake County. In a typical summer, Cool for Wake assists 300-500 households. Similar heat assistance programs exist in most counties across the state.

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Last Modified: July 12, 2006