West LA Times

UCLA will lead an outreach program on avoiding the dangers of extreme heat in collaboration with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, nonprofit Rising Communities, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and more than 75 additional partners. LARC-HEAT, funded by a $3 million grant from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, will focus on serving disadvantaged and heat-burdened communities throughout Los Angeles County. Trained heat ambassadors will ensure the campaign reaches the most vulnerable and least accessible communities.

Los Angeles County is experiencing increasing temperatures. By 2045, the number of annual heat waves in Los Angeles County is likely to increase tenfold. Rising temperatures mean rising risks for everyone, especially older adults, young children and people living and working without air conditioning.

The UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) has been awarded a $3 million grant to develop a comprehensive outreach program called Los Angeles Regional Collaborative: Heat Education, Ambassadors, and Training. Funded by the Regional Resilience Grant Program implemented by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, UCLA will lead a campaign over the next two summers to help improve public understanding about and response to extreme heat risks.

The effort will be collaboratively designed and implemented by the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative, a network of local governments, agencies and organizations housed at IoES; the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians; Rising Communities; and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

“This project builds on two summers of work with more than 75 partners throughout L.A. County,” said Erin Coutts, director of the collaborative. “Together we will share actions people can take to prevent serious illness — including simple things like drinking water, seeking shade, resting and checking on others.”

Extreme heat leads to more than 1,300 deaths per year in the United States according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In California, a single 10-day heat wave in September 2022 led to 395 more deaths than expected by the California Department of Public Health.

With global warming intensifying conditions each year in Los Angeles County records high temperatures almost annually. A 2020 heat wave set records in Woodland Hills (121 degrees Fahrenheit), Van Nuys (118) and Pasadena (115). A 2017 heat wave recorded Beverly Hills’ highest temperature ever at 135 degrees.

A public service announcement promoting cooling measures will run on more than 2,300 Metro buses.

“Heat is the deadliest type of weather event in United States and its effects are increasingly felt across all Los Angeles County,” said Barbara Ferrer Director at County Public Health . “Through this grant Public Health aims to raise awareness about heat-related illnesses providing education through Community Public Health Teams outreach focusing on higher-risk communities."

The campaign features social media elements physical flyers bus advertisements along with community health workers acting as 'heat ambassadors' who spread messages while providing feedback for future improvements using UCLA research guided healthcare practitioners community experts including local tribes insights.

“As stewards ancestral lands we recognize urgent need confronting rising temperatures extreme heats," said Rudy Ortega Jr., President Fernandeño Tataviam Band Mission Indians "This embodies commitment environmental stewardship resilience ensuring sustainable future."

The campaign offers an online toolkit with printable flyers social media graphics information advising health risks symptoms recognition staying cool commuting lacking air conditioning lists places escaping such libraries centers museums shopping malls among others aimed general audience specific high-risk populations older adults children disabilities preexisting conditions pregnant outdoor workers unhoused populations .

“We keep trying reduce emissions limit climate change already happening,” added Coutts “Becoming better prepared fastest ways adapt.”

Read more about UCLA’s efforts combating effects extreme heats .