USC Annenberg/CHJ Webinar: Extreme Heat — A Rising Public Health Threat

It’s heat-dome summer, as high pressure and hot air park over themselves over large swaths of the country. As the planet warms, extreme heat waves are getting hotter, longer and more frequent. The human toll is growing as well: Heat deaths are up 117% over the past two decades, according to one study, with steady annual increases since 2016. The true toll is likely far higher. Long periods of unrelenting summer heat pose particular dangers for workers, the elderly and people experiencing homelessness. Heat can also lead to stroke, heart problems and even accelerate the rate of aging. There are a host of effective steps governments can take to lower the health risks of extreme heat, such as requiring water, shade and rest breaks, but the federal government has not yet mandated such steps and some states have blocked local measures.

In this USC Annenberg/Center for Health Journalism webinar, we’ll examine growing health threats and discuss what kinds of regulations and policies can help. We’ll look at how one sweltering region of the Southwest is taking innovative steps to combat extreme heat and prevent deaths, and what lessons can be drawn from those experiments. Journalists will leave with a host of new ideas for reporting angles and stories, and a firmer understanding of the policy and regulatory approaches that can offset heat’s worst effects. 

When: August 7, 2025, 10-11 a.m. PDT // 1-2 p.m. EDT

More information.