Flag conditions on Okinawa Published June 10, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Zackary A. Henry 18 WG/PA KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- On the sunny island of Okinawa, its inhabitants get to experience beaches, great hiking or even scuba diving. However, along with the beautiful scenery Okinawa is often home to flash floods, typhoons and what has been rising as the summer months take hold, the heat. To try and help keep the people of Kadena safe during the peak heat, the 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight keeps up to date with the current wet bulb globe temperature. "The WBGT is a temperature-measuring scale that takes into account air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air speed and absolute humidity," said Senior Airman Aaron Rogers, 18th AMDS bioenvironmental engineering technician. "Based on those readings there is an assigned heat category and an associated flag color to signify those categories." The categories for the different heat conditions are as follows: Category one is a WBGT reading of at least 78 degrees Fahrenheit but no higher than 81.9 degrees. This category is associated with a white flag. Category two is a WBGT reading of at least 82 degrees Fahrenheit but no higher than 84.9 degrees. This category is associated with a green flag. Category three is a WBGT reading of at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit but no higher than 87.9 degrees. This category is associated with a yellow flag. Category four is a WBGT reading of at least 88 degrees Fahrenheit but no higher than 89.9 degrees. This category is associated with a red flag. Category five is a WBGT reading of at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This category is associated with a black flag. "As the Airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines and their families spend more time in the sun the risk for heat related injuries rise," said Tech. Sgt. Adrienne Tarin-Yatco, 18th AMSD occupational health NCOIC. "Along with the heat, the need to hydrate also increases." These heat conditions can greatly affect work intensity as well. Due to the heat, tasks that are normally simple can become dangerous or even deadly without the proper work/rest cycle and hydration. "At Kadena it gets hot, people need to stay hydrated because the higher the WBGT reading the more likely a heat-related injury can occur," said Tarin-Yatco. "Places like the child development center, Risner Fitness Center and the maintenance section all use the flag conditions to make decisions related to the heat." Always check the current flag condition before going outside for any workouts or activities that can have adverse effects in high heat. For more information or for guidance on training requirements, contact the Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight at 634-4752.