The world has been getting hotter.
Across the globe temperatures have been rising.
Globally, 2016 was the warmest year on record and 2020 was the second warmest.
Overall, 2011–2021 has been the hottest decade recorded since thermometer-based observations first began.
Phoenix, Arizona—the hottest city in the hottest state in the US—had more than 140 days over 100oF in 2020 alone.
Rising Temperatures
The harm of dangerous heat levels is becoming increasingly apparent on a global environmental scale and within human communities.
Extreme heat can negatively affect individuals’ health by preventing their bodies from cooling themselves. This results in overheating and increased risk of heatstroke, other heat-related illnesses, or death. Existing conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease can also be exacerbated by heat waves; the list of potential health risks is long.
When coinciding with drought or extreme humidity, the dangerous effects of extreme heat are intensified even further. Droughts lead to low soil moisture, which then causes more of the sun’s energy to heat the atmosphere. Humidity, on the other hand, prevents our bodies from evaporating sweat off our skin, which cools our body temperature and prevents overheating.
Who Is Most Affected?
Most health guidelines state that children, elderly people, and athletes are most at risk for health complications from rising temperatures. However, these guidelines often don’t examine exactly how different groups of people are affected.
Researchers at the Union of Concerned Scientists examined the rates of heat-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits. They found that communities of color are often most impacted by extreme heat. Multitudes of economic and societal factors are at the root of this issue, including:
- Lack of enough income to afford an air conditioner (which can run families hundreds of dollars per month)
- Lack of air-conditioned transportation (which leads to walking or waiting for public transport in dangerous heat)
- Lack of trees and plants in neighborhoods (which keep the air cooler)
- Excess of concrete, metal, glass, or black pavement in neighborhoods (which absorb heat)
- Living in a densely populated area (which traps heat more easily than sparsely populated regions)
Additionally, hotter temperatures can lead to higher ozone levels, which also disproportionately affect people of color.
Incarcerated populations, which are majority people of color, also experience discrepancies in high heat dangers. The absence of air conditioning and intentional climate planning for prisons has left incarcerated people at serious risk. This is all in addition to dense living quarters and existing mental health issues or medical comorbidities.
Creating Cool Solutions
We can all feel the world becoming hotter. It’s our responsibility to care for the planet as well as each other. To prevent further heath issues caused by extremely high temperatures, we need to take action and protect those most affected.
To protect others on an individual level, check on family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Help prevent dangerous health reactions by ensuring you all have access to air conditioning, plenty of water, and shade when outdoors.
On a macro level, employers and cities need to take responsibility for addressing the risks of extreme heat for their workers and citizens. Many don’t have an emergency response plan in place for heat waves as they do for hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes. Cities and counties need to be prepared to aid people suffering from heat waves by creating cooling centers, offering public shaded areas, and planting trees. Employers must ensure their employees are hydrated and provided with adequate shade and rest.
The onus is on us to act responsibly for one another and protect the vulnerable in our society. Translating emergency room materials, having medical interpreters available, and ensuring online heat health resources are accessible to those with visibility impairments are examples of crucial steps in advocating for equitable health and safety for all.
To learn more about working with G3 in the fight for health equality, contact us today.