Recreational Heat Exposure to Youth Populations in Tucson, Arizona

Abstract

The exposure to extreme heat is both an environmental and a social issue. Youth populations are some of the most vulnerable to heat-related illness yet are often omitted in city plans and policies, further increasing their risk of exposure to the adverse impacts of extreme heat. A mixed-methodology approach using social mapping and plan evaluation was used to identify which areas within the greater Tucson area children are most vulnerable to extreme heat. The social mapping process identified a lack of services and areas where youth were particularly vulnerable to heat due to a lack of heat relief areas, like Flowing Wells and southeast Tucson. Evaluation of Tucson’s 2024 Heat Action Roadmap demonstrates the city’s clear mission to address heat resiliency equitably for vulnerable populations. Despite the inclusion of effective heat-specific strategies, very few were specific to youth populations.