Heat Resilience for
Human Health and Potential
Jason KW LEE Ph.D., FACSM
Director, Heat Resilience & Performance Centre
Chair, WHO-WMO GHHIN Southeast Asia Heat Health Hub
E X T R E M E H E AT A N D S O C I O - E C O N O M I C D I S PA R I T I E S
Case Study: Shoemaking factory in Vietnam (Project HeatSafe)
“The era of global
boiling has arrived.”
United Nations Secretary-General
António Guterres
July 2023
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5
IN CR EASED MY OPI A
RISK TAKING
LACK OF
Increased Heat P HY S I C AL
DECISION Related Illness A C TI V IT Y
MAKING
I M P AC T S
MENTAL HEALTH
DET ERI ORA T ION
DIRECT &
I N CR EASED
TR AUMA,
INDIRECT
S U IC I DES IMPACTS OF F ERT IL IT Y
EXTREME
OTHER
SUSTAINED
U NKN OWN HEAT & C HR ONIC
HUMIDITY
I M P AC T
EXPOSURE
U NAC C .
PETS ADULTS
ELDERLY
OUTDOOR
WOR KERS PREG NAN T
SPECIAL Reduction in Productivity & WOMEN
NEEDS&
DISABLED Performance
OTHER
ATHLETES EMER GENCY WOR KERS IN
MILITARY STUDENTS GR OUPS
RE SPON DER S HOT IN DOOR E NV
‘HEAT-SENSITIVE’
HEALTH CONDITIONS
Health conditions that can worsen or become more difficult to
manage in high temperatures
e.g. chronic conditions
Cardiovascular Renal Pulmonary Hypertension
disease disease disease
HRPC Introduction
HOW DOES THE BODY RESPOND
TO HEAT?
T H E R M O R E G U L AT I O N
H E AT S T R E S S V S . H E AT S T R A I N ?
Air Velocity Ambient
Temperature
Relative Humidity Solar Radiation
Radiation from
machinery
Clothing
Clothing
Ambient
Temperature
Urban Heat
Island effect
Relative Humidity
Air Velocity
Body Core
Body Core Temperature
Muscle Contraction from Muscle Contraction from
Temperature High Power Output
High Power Output
Weather + Attire + Physiology
(Heat Stress) Heat Strain
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Thermal Dis comfort and Risk Taking
HEAT RESILIENCE
HEALTH PILLARS LIFE STAGES POPULATION-SPECIFIC
Occupational Children's
Sleep Diet Infants Children health development
Maternal Male
Exercise Adults Elderly Health Fertility
M A N A G I N G H E AT S T R A I N
PHYSIOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
Lengthening work tolerance
Max. limit Extension
Expanding heat capacity
Thermal Strain
Attenuation
Start state
Reduction
Work Tolerance
Alhadad et al. (2019); Front. Physiol.
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PHYSIOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
AEROBIC FITNESS HEAT PRE-ACTIVITY WORK REST CYCLES
CONDITIONING ACCLIMATIZATION COOLING HYDRATION
Reduction Reduction Reduction Reduction
Attenuation Attenuation Attenuation Attenuation
Extension
Alhadad et al. (2019); Front. Physiol.
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PHYSIOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
Lengthening work tolerance
Max. limit Extension
Expanding heat capacity
Thermal Strain
Attenuation
Start state
Reduction
Work Tolerance
Alhadad et al. (2019); Front. Physiol.
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GHHIN Southeast Asia Hub
A platform for Southeast Asia to collectively prepare for and protect
populations from the health impacts of extreme heat
OUR GOALS REGIONAL FOCUS AREAS
PEOPLE
Connect people and institutions form multi-
disciplinary partnerships to reduce heat risks
SCIENCE & INFO
Urban Heat Heat at Work Traditional &
Accelerate the generation of evidence, Cultural Practices
actionable knowledge, standardised guidance,
risk metrics, and effective communication
ACTION JOIN US
Connect to the Hub & Global Heat Health Digest
Catalyse regional, national and local policy and
action to minimize societal consequences of
heat impacts
Remember
them