Are People With Disabilities Affected More By The Heatwave?

As the summer heat progresses, the temperature is rising, and it is affecting more people than it has in the past year. While for some of us, it may be a matter of slight discomfort and issues like heatstroke and dehydration, people with disabilities are facing a much larger issue. Currently, India is experiencing an influx of heatwaves that are posing a great danger to all the people in the vulnerable sections of our society. Not only does the heat cause medical problems but it has also caused death. With the mortality toll rising by the day, we must put our focus on the people who are bearing the brunt of it.

Heatwaves are becoming more intense, frequent, and unpredictable due to global warming. This is a serious public health risk, causing more deaths worldwide. Heatwaves disrupt sleep and worsen health problems like heart disease, respiratory issues, and mental illness. Many groups are especially vulnerable to heatwaves, including older adults, outdoor workers, low-income individuals, and those living alone.

New reports have surfaced that show that show increased hospitalizations due to heat. It was noticed that people with disabilities are being affected much more. Researchers have found that emergency medical costs are seven times higher than the medical costs in people with disabilities. Not only do they have to bear financial burden but the effect that heat has on them is worse, it was noted that people having lesion disorders and severe physical disabilities, and women above the age of 65 are more vulnerable to the extreme heat.

According to a study done by Yeji Kang, Ingul Baek & Jongchul Park called “Assessing heatwave effects on disabled persons in South Korea” disabled people face a significantly higher risk of Heat-Related Illnesses (HRI), and the risk rises faster for them compared to non-disabled people. On average, people with disabilities were 1.6 times more likely to experience HRI during heatwaves. This risk varied by city, but in all studied locations, people with disabilities had a higher risk.

These findings highlight the importance of considering disability when preparing for and responding to heat waves. People with disabilities need additional support to stay cool and safe during hot weather.

As we grow as a society, the need for proper care has also been highlighted. As global warming gets worse, the call for proper care for disabled people also needs to be highlighted and put on the forefront.