Associations between Spatio-temporal Patterns of Extreme Heat Events and Heat-related Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Austin, Texas

Keywords: extreme heat, heat index pattern, EMS incidents, climate resilience, heat vulnerability
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

Heat-related illnesses demand a timely response from Emergency Medical Services (EMS), as such illnesses can end in death or severe disability if immediate care is not provided (Lee, 2022). Despite increased public concern about urban heat waves and related health consequences, little study has been undertaken on the extreme heat patterns across regions during the summer days and the association with heat-related local emergency medical services (EMS) occurrences.
This study examines the extreme heat characteristics in the Austin-Travis County area of Texas, specifically in frequency, intensity, and duration. Using a heat index (HI), which combines air temperature and relative humidity, we investigated spatio-temporal patterns of the daily heat index and heat-related EMS counts. Then, we conducted spatial autocorrelation to investigate whether heat index patterns are associated with heat-related illnesses by region. Finally, we utilized multivariate clustering analysis with additional socio-demographic and urban environmental indicators to find geographical patterns and correlations between multiple regional characteristics. A total of 47,838 heat-related EMS events were aggregated at the tract level (N=218), confined to a constrained calendar year from May to September for 2020 and 2021.
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of extreme heat characteristics and their relationships with heat-related health issues. This study provides data-driven evidence for planners to identify vulnerable communities to focus local efforts on addressing heat-related health issues in the neighborhood. As a result, the study suggests that a better-designed climate resilience strategy be implemented to enhance public health.