Evaluating the relationship between heat-related illness and cooling center location in Virginia
Using heat-related emergency department and urgent care center visits from the 2014-2020 summer seasons, this study evaluates the relationship between heat-related illness (HRI) and cooling centers in Virginia. In total, more than 10,000 incidences of HRI occurred over the period across 68% of Virginia ZIP codes as reported.
With the highest incidences of HRI taking place in communities with a cooling center, the results of this research raises questions as to the current effectiveness of cooling centers as a heat mitigation strategy in Virginia localities. Our results suggest that at a macro scale, the current model employed does not show cooling centers reduce rates of heat-related incidents and draws attention to the efficiency of formalized cooling centers in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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