With NASA data showing that July 22, 2024, was the on record and indications that July may have been the , an Annenberg Public Policy Center survey conducted in mid-July found that most people know three of the symptoms of a heat-related illness but do not know the location of their nearest cooling center. At the same time, increasing numbers of people think that heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense and affecting their . Knowledge of cooling centers in the case of extreme heat Although the locations of cooling centers, or indoor air-conditioned facilities such as libraries, community and senior centers, schools are publicized by on hot days, many of those surveyed report being unaware of where to find one.
Two-thirds of respondents (67%) say they do not know the location of a cooling center to which they could go to in case of , a number statistically unchanged from last November. "Communities must do a better job of making the public, especially the most vulnerable, aware of these centers," said Ken Winneg, managing director of survey research at APPC. More see link between extreme heat and climate change When compared with an APPC survey in November 2023, significantly more people now say that is increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, respiratory diseases, and insect-borne diseases.
Two-thirds (67%) hold this view vs. just under six in 10 (58%) in November 2023. More people indicate that heat waves in the United States are becoming more frequent and int.