Abstract
Heat waves are the second leading cause of weather-related morbidity and mortality affecting millions of individuals globally, every year. The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions and practices of community residents and healthcare professionals with respect to identification and treatment of heat emergencies. A qualitative study was conducted using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, with the residents of an urban squatter settlement, community health workers, and physicians and nurses working in the emergency departments of three local hospitals in Karachi. Data was analyzed using content analysis. The themes that emerged were (1) perceptions of the community on heat emergencies; (2) recognition and early treatment at home; (3) access and quality of care in the hospital; (4) recognition and treatment at the health facility; (5) facility level plan; (6) training. Community members were able to recognize dehydration as a heat emergency. Males, elderly, and school-going children were considered at high risk for heat emergencies. The timely treatment of heat emergencies was widely linked with availability of financial resources. Limited availability of water, electricity, and open public spaces were identified as risk factors for heat emergencies. Home based remedies were reported as the preferred practice for treatment by community members. Both community members and healthcare professionals were cognizant of recognizing heat related emergencies.
Highlights
Heat emergencies are a public health problem of significance
The HEAT trial was carried out in the months of summer. This qualitative study was embedded in the HEAT trial and conducted in November considering that heatwave is a tropical phenomenon in Pakistan
To facilitate the contextual development of the guideline catering to the needs of community and emergency healthcare workers, a qualitative study was conducted using focus group conversations (FGDs) and in-depth individual interviews (IDIs)
Summary
Heat emergencies are a public health problem of significance. Global climate change has been related to rising temperatures, which have resulted in heatwaves, more severe droughts, heavy rains, and intense hurricanes in various parts of the world [1,2]. These heat related emergencies have affected communities that were unprepared to handle them. More than 166,000 people died as a result of heatwaves between 1998 and 2017, including more than 70,000 in Europe during the 2003 heatwave. Between 2000 and 2016, the number of people exposed to heatwaves went up by nearly
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