Toolkits for managing during extreme heat | UCSF Environmental Research and Translation for Health Center (EaRTH Center)

How to Survive Extreme Heat

Extreme heat is an increasingly serious public health concern, contributing to illness and death among vulnerable and historically underserved populations. Older adults, children, pregnant individuals, outdoor workers, unhoused individuals, low-income communities, and communities of color may face increased risks during periods of extreme heat. Mental health conditions can also increase vulnerability to heat-related illness.

As heat waves become more frequent and severe, access to practical and understandable health information is increasingly important. The resources on this page were developed to help individuals, families, healthcare professionals, educators, and community organizations prepare for and respond to extreme heat safely.

Project materials include flyers, infographics, and educational resources focused on recognizing heat-related illness, preventing dehydration, identifying cooling options, and supporting populations at increased risk. Resources are available in multiple languages to help expand accessibility across diverse communities.

As part of the project’s outreach efforts, Dr. Robin Cooper collaborated with students and educators at Lick-Wilmerding High School to support Chinese translations of project materials and promote environmental health education. Under the guidance of teacher Regina Liu, students also developed awareness campaigns and educational posters addressing environmental health topics including air pollution, fast fashion, and coral reef bleaching. Students shared these materials within their school communities, on social media, and with friends and family around the world.

The EaRTH Center thanks Dr. Robin Cooper and collaborators from Climate Psychiatry Alliance, UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Zuckerberg San Francisco Department of Psychiatry for their work on this initiative.