Great Lakes Reduce Exposure to Heat

PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
Climate change is already underway. Although the worst impacts can still be avoided, some change is inevitable due to the long life of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. Society must begin to prepare by developing management plans for potential future public health risks such as changing patterns of waterborne and vector-borne disease, increased extreme heat events, and flooding. Health care system improvements, greater emergency response capability, improved access to air conditioning, and broad education of both the general and specific target populations will help us avoid the most severe impacts.


Solution strategies:	REDUCE AIR POLLUTION	REDUCE EXPOSURE TO HEAT	MONITOR FOR DISEASE
Extreme heat events can usually be forecast in advance and heat-related deaths are often preventable. As the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events increases, earlier forecasting, better public education, and assistance directed at high-risk populations could help address this serious health risk. Health care assistance and access to air-conditioning for the elderly and low-income populations is critical to reducing heat-related mortality during extreme heat events.