Understand Vulnerable Populations
In a previous section In the Vulnerability and Preparedness section of the Extreme Weather Hazards Module, you were introduced to vulnerable populations affected by heat (elderly, chronically ill, infants, outdoor workers, and those without access to air conditioning). Now we’ll examine the specific physiologic and social mechanisms that create this vulnerability—knowledge you’ll need for clinical […]
Clinical Recognition and Managment
How extreme heat harms the body Humans maintain a core body temperature around 37°C (98.6°F) through thermoregulation (sweating, increased blood flow to skin). However, these cooling mechanisms can be overwhelmed in extreme environmental heat, especially with high humidity or dehydration. Clinical comparison: heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke Feature Heat exhaustion Heat stroke Core temperature Usually […]
Introduction to Heat Impacts
Connect to prior learning In the Droughts and Extreme Heat Waves section of the Extreme Weather Hazards Module, you learned that heat waves are one type of extreme weather event, and you were introduced to vulnerable populations affected by heat. This module builds on that foundation by examining heat as a chronic and recurrent public health threat—not […]
Climate Change and Heat Impacts
Sections
Final Thoughts: Extreme Weather Hazards
In this module, we explored how extreme weather events—supercharged by climate change—translate into profound challenges for public health. You learned how heavy storms and floods can injure and kill in the blink of an eye, set off domino effects like disease outbreaks (e.g., post-hurricane infections), and disrupt healthcare systems. We saw that droughts can be […]
Vulnerability and Preparedness: The Human Factor
Throughout this module, a recurring theme is that not everyone is affected equally when extreme weather strikes. Vulnerable populations bear a disproportionate share of the harm. These vulnerable groups include: Low-income and resource-limited communities Disasters tend to hit hardest in poorer neighborhoods or regions. These communities may live in higher-risk areas (floodplains, sub-standard housing, and drought-prone rural areas) […]
Droughts and Extreme Heat Waves
A farm family walks through a Dust Bowl dust storm in Oklahoma, 1936. The 1930s Dust Bowl drought turned vast areas of the Great Plains into a “dust desert,” causing crop failure, mass migration, and illnesses like “dust pneumonia.” If floods are the dramatic deluge, droughts are the slow-burning disaster. Drought means an abnormally long period of […]
Final Thoughts: Climate Change and Mental Health
Key takeaways The core message Climate change impacts mental health through multiple pathways—from acute trauma after disasters to chronic anxiety about the future. These impacts are not equally distributed; marginalized communities bear the greatest burden. As physicians, you have roles at multiple levels: Clinical care, community resilience building, and advocacy for climate action and health […]
Storms, Hurricanes, and Floods
An aerial view of extreme flooding: New Orleans inundated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (2005). Such catastrophic floods illustrate how powerful storms can devastate entire regions, endanger lives, and incapacitate critical infrastructure. Heavy precipitation One of the clearest signals of climate change is a marked increase in heavy precipitation and flooding events. A warmer […]
Introduction to Extreme Weather Hazards
Even as far back as ancient times, people understood that weather could influence health—Hippocrates wrote 2,400 years ago that anyone practicing medicine must consider seasonal weather changes and their effects on disease. Today, our climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, and this is driving more extreme weather events that pose serious risks to human […]