Public Health Implications of 911 Calls During Heat and Smoke Events

Acute climate hazards such as high temperatures and poor air quality can have disproportionate public health impacts on vulnerable populations. Most of the existing literature in this area explores how these hazards affect urban areas, leaving a gap in knowledge about the effects on rural populations and, importantly, how empirical evidence can inform public health emergency preparedness and planning. This study explores the relationship between high temperatures, poor air quality, certain demographic characteristics, and 911 calls in Missoula County, Montana. Employing statistical and geospatial analysis of secondary data, we seek to understand if there is an association between 911 calls, geography, and acute climate events in rural areas and whether these same 911 calls are correlated with vulnerable populations. We also explore the implications of the results for equitable disaster preparedness policy and practice. Findings indicate that as the daily mean temperature rises, 911 calls per 1,000 people increase in census block groups with certain socio-demographic characteristics. Findings suggest strategies that target specific audiences may help improve equity in public health emergency outcomes. For example, focusing heat-related mitigation strategies on communities with many people who are over the age of 65 and/or unemployed or retired.