Extreme Heat

man outside in sunlight experiencing heat stroke, wiping face with towel Use this resource hub to discover actionable steps you can take to address the challenges of extreme heat, from raising public awareness and strengthening healthcare system preparedness to advocating for heat-resilient communities.

Let's work together to build safer, more resilient communities in the face of this growing threat!

Latest Updates

For the past year, APHA has partnered with the Smart Surfaces Coalition on the Cities for Smart Surfaces project, along with the National League of Cities, Metropolitan AME and many others. This groundbreaking project brings together six APHA affiliates from across the country to explore the potential of smart surfaces to improve public health in urban environments. Learn more.

Beat the Heat Webinar Recording: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach with CDC's New Heat and Health Initiative
APHA, the National League of Cities and WEACT for Environmental Justice explore the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s newly launched Heat and Health Initiative in this action-oriented webinar. Watch the recording.

Extreme Heat Congressional Briefing
The Center for Climate, Health and Equity hosted a congressional briefing on July 8, 2024, focused on policy recommendations to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat. Read the highlights.

When the Heat is On: How Cities Can Protect At-Risk Residents
APHA and the National League of Cities shared three solutions for local leaders to combat extreme heat. Read the article.

Why is extreme heat a public health issue?

Extreme heat is a significant and escalating public health crisis in the U.S., claiming more lives annually than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined. This alarming trend is largely driven by climate change and our dependence on fossil fuels.

The impacts of extreme heat are broad, straining infrastructure and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as older adults, children, individuals with chronic illnesses, low-income communities, people experiencing homelessness etc.

How Climate Affects Health Rising Temperatures

A recent APHA and ecoAmerica survey revealed that only 37% of respondents view heat waves as a health threat, despite heat being the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. A 2023 CAP report estimated that each summer, heat events could lead to nearly 235,000 emergency department visits and over 56,000 hospital admissions, costing about $1 billion in health care.

There is a need for increased public awareness about the dangers of extreme heat and the importance of implementing preventative measures like investing in heat-resilient infrastructure and committing to policies that address the root causes of climate change.

How can you take action?

Studies consistently show that health professionals are among the most trusted messengers on climate change and its health impacts. This makes them powerful allies in educating the public about the dangers of extreme heat and advocating for preventative measures.

This hub equips you with the resources and knowledge to effectively address this challenge. Here are some ways you can take action towards building heat-resilient communities.

1. Raise Public Awareness

Educate communities about the health risks of extreme heat, emphasizing preventive measures like hydration, seeking shade and recognizing heat illness symptoms. Health professionals can organize community workshops to teach heat safety, use social media to share tips and updates and collaborate with local media for broad outreach. Health systems can also offer training for healthcare providers on diagnosing and treating heat-related conditions.

Resources to educate the general public:

CDC's Extreme Heat Information Portal
Ready.gov's Extreme Heat Safety Social Media Toolkit
Heat Stress Editable Posters
Heat.gov: Web portal for the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, serving as the premiere source of information regarding heat and health for the nation
Who is most at risk to extreme heat?
Heat Illness and Prevention at Work
Keep Your Cool: A cool-surface educational campaign for stakeholders and the general public to communicate how cool roofs and walls keep unwanted solar heat out of our homes, workplaces, and communities, offering benefits that grow as the climate warms. It provides easy-to-understand information, resources and incentives to support the adoption of these no-regret choices (see their accompanying social media toolkit).

Resources to educate health care professionals:

CDC Clinical Guidance on heat and health
Climate Resilient Health Clinics: Resources for health care providers, patients and administrators at free clinics and community health centers
Toolkit for Public Health and Emergency Management Officials: Communicating the Health Risks of Extreme Heat Events

2. Enhance Readiness for Extreme Heat

Prepare your organization for extreme heat by designating a heat preparedness officer, conducting annual heat illness training and monitoring heat forecasts. Develop a comprehensive heat emergency response plan, including business continuity protocols for power outages. Regularly evaluate past heat event responses to refine your approach and protect employees.

BRACE Building Resilience Against Climate Effects

Resources to build a climate-resilient health care practice:

CDC's Health-Based Heat Forecast: Integrates health and temperature data to deliver a 7-day heat risk outlook
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit: Specific actions that healthcare organizations can take to enhance resilience to extreme heat events
The Building Resilience Against Climate Effects: Five-step framework that allows health officials to develop strategies and programs to help communities prepare for the health effects of climate change
Planning Guide by Healthcare without Harm: Guide to community-based disaster planning and climate preparedness for health systems

3. Advocate for Heat Resilience and Mitigation

Health professionals can play a crucial role in advocating for extreme heat mitigation by highlighting both the immediate and long-term health impacts of extreme heat. They can push for infrastructure improvements like public cooling centers and urban greening initiatives, support policy changes for comprehensive heat action plans and climate change mitigation, and engage in research and data collection to inform public health strategies and policies.

Resources to advocate for extreme heat solutions:

Extreme Heat Policy Sprint by Federation of American Scientists: Initiative to accelerate experts’ high-impact policy recommendations to comprehensively address the extreme heat
Smart Surfaces: APHA is collaborating with the Smart Surfaces Coalition on the Cities for Smart Surfaces project, bringing together experts in public health, data analytics, environmental justice, energy efficiency and climate policy to assist 10 cities in transforming their built environments.
OSHA’s Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work: Once the comment period begins, health professionals can provide comments into how heat exposure affects health, ensuring that regulations adequately protect vulnerable populations from heat-related illnesses and deaths.