General Population Knowledge about Extreme Heat: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Lisbon and Madrid

Abstract

Extreme heat is associated with an increased mortality and morbidity. National heat plans have been implemented to minimize the effect of extreme heat. The population’s awareness and knowledge of national heat plans and extreme heat is essential to improve the community’s behavior and adaptation. A general population survey was conducted in Lisbon and in Madrid to assess this knowledge. We used a questionnaire to interview passers-by. Results were compared between Lisbon and Madrid and between locals and foreigners, using Pearson Chi-square tests and Fisher's exact test. We conducted 260 interviews in six locations of different socio-economic backgrounds in each city. The most frequently mentioned extreme heat-related risk groups were the elderly (79.2%), children (49.6%) and babies (21.5%). The most frequently reported protective measures were increased fluid intake (73.1%) and avoiding exposure to the sun (50.8%). Knowledge about the heat plan was higher in Lisbon (37.2%) than in Madrid (25.2%) (p-value = 0.03). Foreigners had less knowledge of risk groups compared to locals. Heat plans were not widely known in Madrid and Lisbon. Nonetheless, knowledge of practical concepts to face extreme heat, such as certain risk groups and protective measures, was found. Our results were similar to comparable surveys where specific respondents’ groups were identified as less knowledgeable. This highlighted the importance of addressing these groups when communicating public health messages on heat. Foreigners should be specifically targeted to increase their awareness.

Exploring Heat Stress Relief Measures among the Australian Labour Force

“…Most heat stressed respondents experienced light symptoms, mostly fatigue and headaches, as shown in previous studies from Australia [ 36 , 37 ] and Europe [ 38 , 39 ]. The more severe symptoms such as dizziness, skin rashes, confusion and nausea were mainly reported by those with high levels of heat stress.…”

Associations between high temperatures in pregnancy and risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirths: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…5 6 The public also appears largely unaware of the risks of heat exposure during pregnancy. 7 Several factors could account for the relative neglect of maternal and newborn health in research and policies on the impacts of, and adaptation to, climate change. Perhaps most notably, challenges with the measurement of exposures and adverse outcomes in maternal and newborn health make it difficult to attribute a single cause, such as heat exposure, to an outcome.…”

Steps Towards Comprehensive Heat Communication in the Frame of a Heat Health Warning System in Slovenia

“…Similar approaches were followed in Florida by Raghavendra et al [ 29 ], where it was shown that the shift in the mean temperature may increase the intensity of future heatwaves by 3–4 °C, while a flattening of the temperature distribution may enhance the intensity by an additional 1–2 °C The research on general knowledge showed that a large proportion of the participants (80%) think that temperatures in Slovenia will rise. In Madrid, 13% of respondents observed no increase in air temperatures, and in Lisbon that was as high as 23% [ 26 ].…”

“…For example, a national survey found that 55% of participants had heard of heat protection recommendations during the 2013 heat wave in the UK [ 30 ], while in Slovenia only 9% had never heard of heat warnings. Questions in the survey were from the questionnaire used in Brussels (among 120 passers-by) and Amsterdam (133) in summer 2015 [ 25 ], and in summer 2016 in Lisbon (129 passers-by) and Madrid (131) [ 26 ]. An important piece of information in Slovenia was that older people reported less thirst as a heat stress symptom than younger people, and also less often reported drinking more fluids.…”

“…Their education was very heterogeneous: About one-third had no schooling or only primary school, one-third had secondary school and one-third had completed university. The questionnaire contained questions on knowledge about the national heat warning system, heat stress and heat sensitivity, which were the same as in the published questionnaire by Van Loenhout et al [ 25 ] and Gil Cuesta et al [ 26 ], which allowed for comparison with some other European cities (Brussels and Amsterdam [ 25 ], and Lisbon and Madrid [ 26 ]). No possible answers were given to the respondents.…”