This policy brief examines temperature-related health impacts in the United States. It discusses how temperature variations can cause health issues like heat-related illnesses and mortality. Certain populations, like those in urban areas, are more vulnerable. The brief recommends a holistic approach to address this issue through disaster management planning that integrates health systems. It also emphasizes stakeholder involvement, infrastructure improvements, and public preparedness. Temperature changes significantly impact health care delivery systems by increasing heat-related sickness and healthcare costs. Preventive actions are needed year-round to reduce burdens on public health.

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Running head: POLICY BRIEF
Policy Brief
Student’s Name
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POLICY BRIEF
Introduction
In the recent past, climate change has been among the key concerns among health care
providers because of its health effects. Some of its impacts include the changes in precipitation,
warming temperatures, increased frequencies of some extreme weather occurrences as well as
rising sea levels that threaten human health (Sarofim, Saha, Hawkins, Mills, Hess, Horton &
Juliana, 2016). With that said, it is crucial to note that the severity of health risk in the U.S
depends on the ability of its safety and public health systems to mitigate such threats. The
purpose of this stud, therefore, is to investigate temperature-related impact which is an
environmental issue within the U.S. health care delivery system. This study will also examine the
effect of temperature on a specific population.
Temperature-Related Impact
The variation of temperature can have effects on human health as people risk getting sick,
suffer discomfort or increase the risk of developing certain health conditions that can be
detrimental. In the U.S there are groups of people that are to temperature variations more than
others because of the difference in sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity. Petkova, Ebi,
Culp and Redlener (2015) asserted that everyone is in America vulnerable to health issues
associated with temperature variation. The target population in this study is the people in urban
areas. Typically, the urban areas are warmer compared to the rural surroundings. For instance,
there has been a significant increase in the death rates resulting from heatwaves in large
metropolitan such as Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis as well as Cincinnati. On this note, the
urban population is more vulnerable to heat-related issues that result from climate change in the

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future. Besides, urban areas experience stagnant air which is caused by heat waves which project
the level of air pollution as well as its associated health effects on the population.
Heat-related health issues occur at the National level because the temperature varies in
every part of the country and has different consequences depending on the affected population.
However, the States in the northern latitude is more likely to be affected because they are less
prepared to cope with extreme heat.
An increase in temperature will result in hotter days that can cause frequent as well as
longer heat waves. As a result, there will be a monument increase in the number of deaths that
are heat-related in America. On the other hand, there are small numbers of deaths reported in the
winter months.
Figure 1: An Examination of Heat-Related Death (Chicago Heat Wave 1995)

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Source: Sarofim, Saha, Hawkins, Mills, Hess, Horton and Juliana (2016)
Figure 2: The Projection of Changes in the Wettest/Driest and Hottest/Coldest Day of the Year

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Source: Wang and Lin (2014)
Problem Statement
Temperature variation in different parts of the country is likely to cause health problem
that can lead to mortality. There are some populations that are more affected than others.
Therefore, there is a need to ensure that everyone is prepared to deal with extreme weather-
related health issues.
How to Address Temperature-Related Health Issues
This issue can be effectively addressed using a more holistic approach with regards to
disaster management planning. According to Boeckmann and Rohn (2014) there should be a plan
that integrates health care delivery system with every aspect of health issues resulting from
temperature variation. First, there is a need for a paradigm shift in the way disaster management

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handles this issue. The second step is to emphasize the involvement of the stakeholders, the
government which is crucial in implementing the strategies and actions to take to control health
issues resulting from the impact of temperature variation. The third step is to revisit
infrastructures constructed to control the phenomena and plans in order to have a robust and
quality control. Fourth, the policymakers will have to ensure that everyone is always prepared to
deal with extreme temperatures in order to reduce the number of mortality resulting from the
same. The use of air conditioners and the proper arrangement of buildings in the urban areas to
allow free air flow will significantly help to solve this problem.
Temperature-Related Impacts on the Health Care Delivery System
Temperature variations have a significant impact on the population. For instance, heat
waves can lead to excessive heat that can cause cerebrovascular, cardiovascular and respiratory
diseases as well as dehydration and stroke. Extreme heat condition can lead to a significant
increase of heat-related illness which will exacerbate the current health conditions increase the
demand of the health care system (Tong, Confalonieri, Ebi & Olsen, 2016). On the same note,
there will be a monument increase in the healthcare expenditure which can be detrimental to the
country. Most of the healthcare resources are channeled towards treating patients with heat-
related sickness leaving other patients suffering from another disease less attended. Besides, the
increase in the number of patients will demand more health care providers as well as other
facilities to support them.
Conclusion
Holistically, temperature-related health is a phenomenon that requires public attention in
order to avert the spike in deaths. On this note, it is crucial for the government and other

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stakeholders to focus on problems caused by temperature variation. It is important to have
effective methods of reducing the burden resulting from the impact of temperature. However,
preventive action should not only be taken when the temperature is above the threshold or only
focusing on extreme heat or cold, but people should also always be prepared. Furthermore,
healthcare delivery systems should also be adequately prepared to ensure that it offers the best
solution to the problem.
References
Boeckmann, M., & Rohn, I. (2014). Is planned adaptation to heat reducing heat-related mortality
and illness? A systematic review. BMC public health, 14(1), 1112.
Petkova, E., Ebi, K., Culp, D., & Redlener, I. (2015). Climate change and health on the US gulf
coast: Public health adaptation is needed to address future risks. International journal of
environmental research and public health, 12(8), 9342-9356.
Sarofim, M. C., Saha, S., Hawkins, M. D., Mills, D. M., Hess, J., Horton, R., ... & Juliana, A. S.
(2016). Ch. 2: Temperature-related death and illness (pp. 43-68). US Global Change
Research Program, Washington, DC.
Tong, S., Confalonieri, U., Ebi, K., & Olsen, J. (2016). Managing and mitigating the health risks
of climate change: calling for evidence-informed policy and action. Environmental health
perspectives, 124(10), A176-A179.
Wang, Y. C., & Lin, Y. K. (2014). Association between temperature and emergency room visits
for cardiorespiratory diseases, metabolic syndrome-related diseases, and accidents in
metropolitan Taipei. PLoS One, 9(6), e99599.