Cool It: Why Heatwaves Demand Urgent Action to Protect Public Health

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS:
Ellie Johnson, Intern
APTIM | Environmental Compliance & Sustainability
Ellie.Johnson@APTIM.com
Ellie Johnson is a third-year student studying environmental policy at Georgetown University and a committed member of the Georgetown Field Hockey team. She is interested in environmentalism, law, women studies, and entrepreneurship.

 

Brooke Lovett, Intern
APTIM | Emergency Management
Brooke.Lovett@APTIM.com
Brooke Lovett is earning her MPH in EHS with a certificate in history, ethics, and law at Columbia University. Her studies focus on the intersection of human health, climate change, and the built environment. She combines her unique perspective and educational background to create innovative solutions for climate related issues and communicate EHS topics to all audiences.

 

 

Cool It: Why Heatwaves Demand Urgent Action to Protect Public Health

Heat is not just a weather issue; it’s a major public health concern. As global temperatures rise, cities around the world are experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves. This trend poses a significant public health threat, especially for urban areas. But there are actions that governments, businesses, and even individuals can take to lessen the risk and effects of heatwave. Let’s dive in.

Understanding Public Health Impacts of Heatwaves

Heatwaves can lead to a range of health problems, from mild dehydration to severe heat stroke. During extreme heat events, mortality rates can spike, placing an additional burden on healthcare systems. According to the CDC, extreme heat causes more deaths in the US than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined. Vulnerable populations are particularly at risk.

Identifying Risk of Heatwaves

Heatwaves disproportionately impact certain groups, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and inequalities. The elderly and young children are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses due to their body’s reduced ability to regulate temperature. Low-income communities and neighborhoods without adequate green spaces or tree cover suffer more during extreme heat events, as they lack the natural cooling effects provided by vegetation. These areas often have higher concentrations of heat-absorbing surfaces like asphalt and concrete, which can increase local temperatures by several degrees.

Additionally, residents in these communities may have limited access to air conditioning or cooling centers, further increasing their risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Extreme heat can also contribute to increased rates of domestic violence. High temperatures can exacerbate stress, irritability, and aggression, which may lead to more conflicts and incidents of violence in households. This adds another layer of urgency to the need for effective heat mitigation strategies, particularly in vulnerable communities where social services and support may already be limited.

Building Heatwave-Resilient Cities

Building heat-resilient cities is crucial for the future. Implementing strategies like increasing green spaces, improving urban planning to reduce heat-absorbing surfaces, and ensuring access to cooling resources can help mitigate the impact of extreme heat. These measures will not only protect public health but also enhance the overall quality of life in urban areas, making them more livable and sustainable as the climate continues to change.

Taking Government Action to Protect From Heatwaves

These three programs exemplify how governmental action can protect populations from extreme heat. As prioritized by the programs, crucial heat-mitigation strategies include creating a greener urban environment with equal, widespread tree and greenspace coverage, opening cooling centers throughout the city, using permeable concrete, and adopting cool roofs that reflect light and absorb less solar energy. While these actions may seem small, they can significantly reduce urban heat levels and energy use. For example, cool roofs can keep roofs more than 28°F cooler, reducing the need for air conditioning and lowering energy costs.

Biden-Harris Proposed Rule to Protect Workers from Heat

The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a rule to protect approximately 36 million workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat. The rule would require employers to develop heat hazard prevention plans, including providing drinking water, rest breaks, and controlling indoor heat. This proposal aims to reduce heat-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths, particularly affecting workers in high-risk industries and communities of color.

Employers must also train workers to recognize heat illness symptoms and take immediate action. Public comments on the rule will be solicited once it is published in the Federal Register. The Biden-Harris Administration’s proposed rule to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat underscores the recognition of heat as a major public health issue requiring urgent and comprehensive preventive measures.

Tools to Implement Heat-Mitigation

Effective tools for implementing these heat-mitigation tactics include local ordinances or funding programs, like the Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Heat Energy Assistance Program that provide vulnerable residents with the help they need to access cooling technology or the workforce development program, NYC CoolRoofs, that provides New Yorkers with paid training and work experience in installing energy-saving reflective rooftops.

Another effective approach for protecting populations from the dangers of extreme heat events, as New Jersey, Maryland, and Arizona have already done, involves creating heat action plans or appointing state-level heat mitigation officers to navigate extreme heat events and streamline the implementation of heat-reduction tactics.

Preventative Measures for Heat Events

Finally, heat events will only continue to get worse unless preventative measures are taken. The primary prevention tool at our disposal is the reduction of fossil fuel energy use and instead transitioning to sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind, or geothermal. Implementing taxes, subsidies, or governmental programs can hasten this process.

Protecting Yourself From Heatwaves at Work and Home

However, regardless of governmental actions, corporations must understand the risks their employees face depending on exertion level, age, office location, etc in order to prevent harm and enhance workplace efficiency. Without preventative measures, “two percent of total working hours are projected to be lost each year due to heat stress at work, representing more than $4 trillion annually by 2030,” according to the Harvard Business Review. Prioritizing cooling measures such as reflective windows, seating away from direct sunlight, ample breaks, or allocating funds to install cool roofs also improves safety and efficiency.

On a smaller scale, individuals can protect themselves at home and in the workplace with a few simple actions. At home, ensuring proper insulation and sealing windows can save a lot of money on air conditioning while cooling the house. Daily actions include minimizing the use of lights and stove tops, pulling down shades, and even cooling clothes like pajamas in the fridge. Additionally, although this might just be used as a fun fact for some, eating spicy foods, as commonly done in warm climates like India and Mexico, can induce sweating and help cool the body. At work, knowing the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, can prevent serious harm and allow for timely intervention. Taking rests or splashing cold water on your face when symptoms appear can also mitigate risk.

Building Safe, Equitable, and Sustainable Environments for All

For more than 30 years, APTIM has provided customers with technical experts and integrated solutions to ensure environments are restored, communities are protected, energy is saved, and waste is minimized—resulting in an equitable future for everyone to enjoy. We are your trusted partner in transitioning to sustainable energy with expertise in infrastructure improvements, incentive program administration, facility renovations, and electrification to help reduce carbon footprints. Learn more about our energy transition, engineering, environmental compliance and consulting, and grants management solutions to protect your community from climate impacts such as heatwaves, and check out our own 2023 Sustainability Report, ESG Disclosures, and Climate Transition Plan. Together, we can build a safer, healthier future for all.