Extreme Heat Awareness and Protective Behaviors in New York City
Open Access
- 3 December 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Journal of Urban Health
- Vol. 91 (3), 403-414
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-013-9850-7
Abstract
Heat waves can be lethal and routinely prompt public warnings about the dangers of heat. With climate change, extreme heat events will become more frequent and intense. However, little is known about public awareness of heat warnings or behaviors during hot weather. Awareness of heat warnings, prevention behaviors, and air conditioning (AC) prevalence and use in New York City were assessed using quantitative and qualitative methods. A random sample telephone survey was conducted in September 2011 among 719 adults and follow-up focus groups were held in winter 2012 among seniors and potential senior caregivers. During summer 2011, 79 % of adults heard or saw a heat warning. Of the 24 % who were seniors or in fair or poor health, 34 % did not own AC or never/rarely used it on hot days. Of this subgroup, 30 % were unaware of warnings, and 49 % stay home during hot weather. Reasons for not using AC during hot weather include disliking AC (29 %), not feeling hot (19 %), and a preference for fans (18 %). Seniors in the focus groups did not perceive themselves to be at risk, and often did not identify AC as an important health protection strategy. While heat warnings are received by most New Yorkers, AC cost, risk perception problems, and a preference for staying home leave many at risk during heat waves. Improving AC access and risk communications will help better protect the most vulnerable during heat waves.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Heat Waves in the United States: Mortality Risk during Heat Waves and Effect Modification by Heat Wave Characteristics in 43 U.S. CommunitiesEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2011
- Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions in Reducing Morbidity and Mortality during Heat Episodes: a Structured ReviewInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2010
- Falls and fear of falling: burden, beliefs and behavioursAge and Ageing, 2009
- Temperature Extremes and Health: Impacts of Climate Variability and Change in the United StatesJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2009
- Heat Stress and Public Health: A Critical ReviewAnnual Review of Public Health, 2008
- Overview of deaths associated with natural events, United States, 1979–2004Disasters, 2008
- Temperature, temperature extremes, and mortality: a study of acclimatisation and effect modification in 50 US citiesOccupational and Environmental Medicine, 2007
- A survey of public perception and response to heat warnings across four North American cities: an evaluation of municipal effectivenessInternational Journal of Biometeorology, 2006
- Mortality prediction with a single general self-rated health questionJournal of General Internal Medicine, 2006
- Excess hospital admissions during the July 1995 heat wave in ChicagoAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1999