Improving Heat Risk Education and Warning Messaging: Three Recommendations from San Diego County, CA

As population exposure to extreme heat increases, government agencies are developing heat health warning systems and emergency preparedness plans to support the public in taking protective action. However, questions remain about the reach and effectiveness of those interventions, especially for those most at risk. We conducted four focus groups involving 43 participants across San Diego County, California, to hear their recommendations for increasing the reach and effectiveness of heat risk education and warning messaging. Focus group participants included community leaders and advocates as well as representatives of nonprofit and community-based organizations, county and city government agencies, healthcare professionals, schools and universities, and a utility company. There were three key recommendations across the four focus groups: (1) diversify communication channels, (2) provide content that is specific, comprehensive, and accessible, and (3) conduct formally coordinated heat risk education campaigns. We provide a detailed summary of those recommendations and discuss how they align with evidence-based support for successful hazard risk communication as well as the increasing valorization of dialogic models of communication. In doing so, we emphasize the need for input and feedback from heat-vulnerable communities in the planning and implementation of interventions meant specifically to support them in taking protective action.