Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - VCU researchers say extreme heat events are costing the U.S. around $1 billion dollars in excess emergency visits every summer.
In a new report, researchers at VCU and the Center for American Progress (CAP) found that extreme heat will be responsible for nearly 235,000 emergency department visits and more than 56,000 additional hospital admissions across the country. Certain communities are more vulnerable to effects of extreme heat days, such as those with health issues and those who work outdoors.
The study authors hope to raise awareness of the problems associated with extreme heat, as well as build resilience to extreme heat days across communities. The researchers say extreme heat is a growing concern and inaction is likely to be costly.
"Quite simply, if we don't address these issues, more people are going to have adverse health events due to extreme heat," says Dr. Alex Krist, study co-author and professor at the VCU School of Medicine. "We know that [extreme heat] causes health problems, but it also causes lots of other problems -- social problems, work problems, and community problems."
Proposed changes to combat extreme heat in vulnerable Richmond-area communities include lighter-colored road and roof surfaces, green roofs, varied building heights to encourage air circulation, tax and zoning policies to limit parking lots, replacement of parking lots with mixed-use developments and parks, and increased tree canopy and green space.