Individual awareness and response to health messaging related to extreme heat

Abstract

Objective: The frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat days are increasing across the United States. This study is a nationally representative assessment to (i) identify specific temperature ranges that individuals consider to be a public health risk (ii) document how individuals change behaviors when informed of a heat hazard; and (iii) understand the specific communication channels that individuals rely on for information about extreme heat. Methods: The study used data from a nationally representative survey of 3624 adults who responded to the spring wave of the ConsumerStyles survey. The survey responses were linked with information about the annual number of extreme heat days, as recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and number of heat alerts issued by the National Weather Service in respondents’ zip codes. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess frequencies of responses by census region, age, gender, income, education, race, number of extreme heat days, and number of heat alerts. Results: Adults living in the Northeast and Midwest census regions consider health risk from heat at lower temperatures than adults in other regions. On average, men perceive health risk from heat at higher temperature than women. No patterns emerged between observed high temperature days in 2019 and what individuals considered to be a ‘hot day’. Individuals reported obtaining information about heat days mainly from the television, followed by radio and the internet. Changing outdoor activity schedule, staying hydrated, and seeking air-conditioned places were the most common responses among individuals who were aware of high ambient heat. Conclusion: Variation in perceptions of health risk from extreme heat across different parts of the country reinforce the need to calibrate local heat warnings. Information on how people access and respond to information on extreme heat will help target vulnerable groups during heat days.