Individualised heat-health early warning systems: A novel digital solution

Our world is heating up. WHO estimates that the number of persons exposed to extreme heat increased by around 125 million from 2000 to 2016. Climate change will increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of these extreme heat events globally. It is important to find ways to protect the most vulnerable from increasing heat-health risks.

Older people are particularly vulnerable - exacerbated by reduced thermoregulatory function and high comorbidity.

While existing heat warning systems target whole populations, response systems that consider individualised risk profiles for older citizens are largely missing.

There is an urgent, unmet need for innovative solutions to enable older people, especially those who are isolated or socially disadvantaged, to effectively monitor and mitigate extreme heat effects.

This project will develop an individualised, early warning system to protect vulnerable older populations from increased heat risks.

Our co-design approach combines best evidence in climate-heat-health impact research and advances in digital technologies.

Key outputs will include a toolkit of research findings & code libraries, a community of practice, and a localised software application.

Together, these outputs will enable older people to maintain healthy and safe home environments and provide a robust platform for expansion towards other sub-populations or countries.