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Op-ed: Extreme heat is here. These tools can help protect our communities
- July 14, 2026
- Guest Author(s)
Extreme heat is impacting health around the world, but there are ways to minimize harms, says Shweta Arya, senior project manager for smart surfaces at APHA’s Center for Climate, Health and Equity.
We are witnessing a staggering display of climate extremes that defy historical norms.
In the U.S., large swaths of the country baked under a Fourth of July “heat dome,” pushing temperatures to as much as 110 degrees in some regions and forcing the cancellation of major celebrations of America’s 250th birthday. Ushering in the month was a record-setting heat wave in Western Europe, with excess deaths numbering in the thousands
These incidents are not one-offs or isolated events. Extreme heat is the new normal — the result of a warming climate driven by fossil fuels trapping heat in the atmosphere, which increases global temperatures to dangerous levels
Adapting our homes, work spaces and other environments we spend time in to reoccurring surges of extreme heat is of paramount importance
The Federation of American Scientists recently launched the State and Local Heat Policy Agenda, a comprehensive framework supported by more than 300 organizations and experts, including APHA and ecoAmerica. The agenda outlines 15 goals to create heat-safe communities, including setting maximum indoor temperature standards for classrooms and strengthening protections so workers can rest and hydrate without risking lost wages
Even though extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S. — and kills half a million people globally every year — there is a profound gap between how we perceive this danger and the reality of the threat. Many Americans and government officials do not fully appreciate extreme heat’s dangers to human health.
Heat stress is a major cause of weather-related deaths and can exacerbate chronic illnesses, such cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health and asthma, the World Health Organization says. And heat stroke can be fatal
According to the APHA’s 2025 Affiliate Heat Survey, extreme heat has risen to the top of climate concerns. Yet state governments remain ill-equipped to protect residents from heat-related health harms. Strikingly, almost all public health leaders in the survey said their states are not prepared for a major heat event
To close this gap, APHA’s Climate Center partnered with ecoAmerica to develop free training on extreme heat that teaches participants how to communicate effectively about heat and health and advocate for heat protections. The virtual “Extreme Heat and Health: Strategies for Prevention and Action” course is available on-demand and includes three continuing education credits. Public health professionals can take the course individually or host a group session with local partners, such as health departments, hospitals or schools.
By taking action now, we can help protect our communities from one of the fastest-growing threats to public health. We have the science, the tools and practical solutions to save lives. You can help put them into practice before the next deadly heat wave arrives.
Amanda Li, MPH, CHES, senior manager of ecoAmerica’s Climate for Health program, contributed to this article
Photo by Urbazon, courtesy iStockphoto
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