Credit: Pixabay/CC0 public domainAccording to a study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, over one quarter of the U.S. population was exposed to extreme heat during the 2020 pandemic. People reported heat-related symptoms such as nausea, muscle cramps, and fainting, which were caused by the economic downturn and social distancing that made it more difficult to escape the sweltering temperatures.According to the study, women, people in low-income households, unemployed, furloughed or with no jobs were the most at risk from the summer heat.To determine the effects heat had on people, the research team interviewed thousands of people. This was at a time in which millions of Americans were out-of-work and officials had to temporarily close libraries and community centers due to fears over COVID-19 spreading.Olga Wilhelmi (NCAR scientist) said that the two health hazards of extreme heat, COVID-19, intersected in such a way as to magnify existing vulnerabilities and place millions at risk of heat stress. "The safety nets of the nation proved very fragile."Surveys revealed that many people find it difficult to adjust their daily routines to escape extreme temperatures or access quality medical care. Despite the fact that most Americans have air conditioning, nearly one fifth of respondents couldn't cool their homes adequately due to high maintenance and running costs.Peter Howe, associate professor of geography at Utah State University, said that the study "underlines how social and economic inequality magnify the risks from environment hazards." Heat is already one the most dangerous weather hazards in the US. It has the highest impact on the poorest and most marginalized communities. Our research shows that people already at high heat risk were made even more vulnerable by the COVID-19 pandemic.The National Science Foundation funded the study. This is NCAR's sponsor. The study was co-authored by scientists from Utah State University, ColoradoColorado Springs, and University of ColoradoColorado Springs.Isolation at home and reduced work productivityEven during a non-pandemic, extreme heat can pose major health risks. It can cause heat stroke and dehydration as well as worsening cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. People who live in extreme heat and are unable to keep their homes cool are most at risk, particularly those who are very old or very young or who have pre-existing conditions.Local governments have taken measures to protect the most vulnerable residents. They established cooling centers to provide temporary relief from heat and developed community-based programs to strengthen social networks and support those in need. However, these strategies were undermined by the economic hardships that resulted from the pandemic and the social isolation.Wilhelmi and her coworkers conducted online surveys to over 3,000 adults between July and September 2020 in order to measure the effect of heat on Americans following the outbreak of COVID-19. The survey asked about heat stress perceptions and experiences, as well as strategies to escape heat (including air conditioning and changing your routines to avoid overheating), and the difficulties of taking preventative actions during the pandemic. The average margin of error was 3% and the confidence interval of 95% for correctly capturing the population mean was 95%.Nearly 28% of Americans said they had experienced symptoms related to extreme heat. Nearly one third of Americans expressed concern about heat while at work, while one in eight reported that they experienced decreased productivity in hot weather. The lowest income group was 68% more likely than the highest to suffer from at least one heat-related symptom. Non-white respondents and those Hispanic/Latino were more likely to experience heat symptoms, despite being of mixed race.According to geography, people in the South and West are more likely to experience heat-related illnesses. Although the study didn't examine the causes, the research team is looking into possible environmental and health factors. Wilhelmi suggested that they could be due to the high heat and humidity in the South and the relative lack of air conditioning for the West.When asked about the effects of pandemic, more that 25% of respondents felt isolated at home. More than one fifth said it was harder than in a normal summer to call family and friends. People who feel too hot at home reported that it was difficult to get to an air-conditioned area or to receive medical care. They also felt more worried about COVID-19.Wilhelmi stated that energy poverty was a problem that has persisted in the United States. The pandemic increased existing socioeconomic inequalities and overwhelmed emergency response systems. "It's crucial that federal, state and local officials have the resources necessary to protect the health of those most vulnerable in a multihazard environment.Continue reading Scientists create a new method for estimating indoor heat exposureMore information: Olga V Wilhelmi and colleagues, Combining hazards and intersecting vulnerability: Experiences and responses to extreme heat during COVID-19 Environmental Research Letters (2021). Information from the Journal: Environmental Research Letters Olga V Wilhelmi and colleagues, Compounding hazards, intersecting vulnerabilities: Experiences and responses to extreme heat during COVID-19 (2021). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac1760Provided by NCAR & UCAR
