Disabled Individuals Report Heatwave Advice Creates Risks

Why it matters locally: With North Carolina experiencing increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, the concerns raised by disabled individuals about public health guidance have direct implications for how state and local agencies, including the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and local emergency management, develop and disseminate heat-related safety information.

Disabled individuals are reporting that official guidance for staying safe during heatwaves can place them in greater danger. Campaigners describe their experiences during extreme heat as a struggle for survival. Advocacy groups indicate that general public health advice often does not account for the specific needs of disabled people. This oversight, they state, can lead to unintended consequences when disabled individuals attempt to follow recommended safety measures.