Extreme heat is now one of the deadliest weather-related public health threats in the United States, contributing to thousands of emergency department visits and preventable deaths each year. Longer heat waves, higher temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events are
placing growing strain on individuals, healthcare systems, and community infrastructure.
Some communities face greater risks than others. Older adults, children, outdoor workers, pregnant individuals, and people living with chronic medical or mental health conditions can be especially vulnerable during periods of extreme heat. Barriers such as limited access to cooling, healthcare, transportation, or health information in a person’s primary language can make staying safe even more difficult.
In 2022, the EaRTH Center supported How to Survive Extreme Heat, a collaborative project led by Mentored Clinician Award recipient, Dr. Robin Cooper. In partnership with Climate Psychiatry Alliance, UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Zuckerberg San Francisco
Department of Psychiatry, the project developed educational materials designed to provide practical, easy-to-understand guidance for navigating extreme heat safely.
The project produced flyers, infographics, and social media resources focused on recognizing heat-related illness, preventing dehydration, identifying cooling options, and supporting populations at increased risk. These materials were created with accessibility in mind, including translation into multiple languages to better serve diverse communities.
Today, we are proud to share an important expansion of that work: the How to Survive a Heatwave flyer is now available in Arabic.
“This new translation reflects an ongoing commitment to ensuring that health and safety information is accessible, culturally relevant, and usable for the communities who need it most,” said Dr. Robin Cooper.
During extreme weather events, access to timely and understandable information can directly affect health outcomes, yet public health messaging is not always available in the languages spoken by affected communities. Expanding multilingual heat safety resources is one practical way to strengthen community preparedness and reduce barriers to care.
As climate change continues to intensify heat exposure across many regions, practical, community-based interventions will remain an important part of improving preparedness and reducing risk during extreme weather events.
The EaRTH Center continues to support projects exploring how extreme weather events affect healthcare access, maternal health, and community well-being. We encourage healthcare professionals, educators, and community organizations to share these materials widely to help expand access to trusted information during periods of extreme heat.
About the author
Alana D’Aleo is Associate Director of the EaRTH Center at UCSF, where she supports environmental health research, investigator programs, and community outreach initiatives.
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