Evaluating the effects of heat vulnerability on heat-related emergency medical service incidents: Lessons from Austin, Texas
Abstract
Urban areas face significant health risks due to extreme heat exposure, requiring prompt Emergency Medical Service (EMS) response to prevent severe illness or death. Despite concerns about urban heat waves, research on heat vulnerability and related illnesses is limited. This study investigates heat vulnerability in Austin and Travis County, Texas, identifying high-risk neighborhoods with limited EMS accessibility. Negative binomial regressions show that heat-related EMS incidents are more common in areas with higher impervious surfaces, Hispanic populations, social benefit recipients, individuals living alone, and the elderly. Conversely, areas with efficient road networks, water features, and green spaces experience fewer incidents. These findings offer data-driven insights to help planners prioritize vulnerable locations and address heat-related health concerns effectively.
Team
Kijin Seong, PhD
Junfeng Jiao, PhD
Akhil Mandalapu
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the editor and the reviewers for their helpful comments. The authors extend their sincere gratitude to David Kulpanowski in Austin Travis-County EMS for sharing the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data.
