Heat waves disproportionately increase health risks for people with disabilities

Daytime temperatures in Kansas and many other parts of the U.S. are consistently top 90 degrees. While the risk of heat-related illness applies to everyone, those at the highest risk include the very young, older adults, and people with disabilities.  

The negative effects of extreme heat can include sunburn, heat stroke, kidney damage, and more. If untreated, these can cause serious injury and even death.

Recently, the New York Times highlighted that medical care providers are seeing an increase in injuries and death from heat, including burns inflicted by coming in contact with extremely hot sidewalks and pavement.  

To avoid the risk of heat-related illness and injury, here are tips to keep you and your community safe: 

Be aware of the increased health risks for people with disabilities 

Heat can exacerbate preexisting conditions, including neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases. People with spinal cord injuries are at elevated risk due to an impaired ability to cool off by sweating. 

Poverty and obesity, both of which disproportionately impact people with disabilities, increase the risk of heat-related illness.

Certain medications may interfere with the body’s ability to regulate its temperature. Use of alcohol and other substances also can elevate risks. Cognitive impairments, including mental illness, dementia, and intellectual disabilities, increase people’s risk of hospitalization and death during heat waves.

Check on neighbors and family members who are at increased risk for heat-caused illnesses. Reach out to them at least twice a day to make sure they are drinking water, have access to air conditioning, and know how to keep cool. Be aware of and pay attention to symptoms of heat-related illness.

Ensure accessibility for people in need of relief from heat

While community cooling spaces can provide relief during extreme temperatures for people with inadequate cooling systems or during blackouts, these may not be accessible for people with disabilities.

When he spoke with Environmental Health Studies in 2021, Alex Ghenis, founder of Accessible Climate Strategies, said statistics on heat-related deaths don't reliably include information on an individual's disability, but a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heat-related deaths amongst adults aged 65 or older are the highest across all age groups.

"There's overlap between age and disability," Ghenis said.

Community cooling space themselves must also be accessible to people who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids and to people with vision, hearing, or other disabilities.

Include people with disabilities during intervention planning

At the community level, city and rural planning efforts should include people with lived experiences when creating emergency plans to ensure their needs are not excluded.

For example, warnings and other important public messaging may not be accessible to people with disabilities, making it difficult to plan for extreme weather events such as extended heat waves. 

Available resources such as cooling stations may not be accessible to people with disabilities, or accessible transportation may not be available. Taxi services, including Uber or Lyft, are not required to offer accessible vehicles.

Individuals may need accessible public transportation to access these options, but being sensitive to extreme heat may make it dangerous to wait outside at a bus stop. Transportation can also be challenging for people dependent on electronic medical devices with a limited battery life.

If you personally have elevated risks of heat-related injuries ...

• Stay hydrated and remain in cool spaces during high temperatures as much as possible. 
• Consult your pharmacist or a health professional about the types of heat risks that accompany prescribed medications and how to reduce dangers. 
• Prepare for emergencies by having an emergency plan and a kit with medication, food, water, first-aid supplies, and copies of medical records. 
• Connect with your local emergency manager to make them aware of your functional needs and to identify resources that they can have for you, if needed, during an emergency. 
• Have someone check on you at least twice a day if you’re concerned about your safety during extreme heat. 
• Check with your local health department to find out about possible heat-related programs, such as those that provide free fans or assistance with obtaining air conditioning or paying utility bills.