Developing an Early Warning System to prevent heat illness in the Carolinas

Residents of the Carolinas are familiar with hot summers, but in some areas excessive heat events bring a higher risk for heat-related illness—and even death. A new tool can help local communities get ahead of heat events so they can reduce risk for their residents.

Although urban areas in the Carolinas can experience increased temperatures due to the urban heat island effect, the proportion of people who experience heat-related illnesses seemed to be higher in rural counties. This sparked an interest in CISA's research team to investigate the differences.

In their investigation of North Carolina's Sandhills region, they learned that many communities lack the resources to combat the effects of heat waves. Cooling centers such as libraries, recreation centers, or other public places with air conditioning are scarce and are generally an impractical option for rural settings. Travel to and from hospitals and treatment centers is difficult due to the long distances. Demographic data show the majority of the population in this rural region is at higher risk for heat illness.

Children, the elderly, outdoor workers, and emergency responders are all vulnerable to heat-related illness. In North Carolina in particular, student athletes have also emerged as an at-risk population. Ward points out that many residents in the rural areas of the Carolinas are farm workers whose salaries are contingent on productivity—an incentive to continue working even when conditions become dangerously hot.