The climate crisis has been linked to some of the world recent natural disasters including the hottest seasons on record which are devastating to human health and wellbeing. People in the UK and across the world are suffering and dying from the heat strain they experience during activities in hot conditions or passive heat gain (e.g., during a heat wave). Climate change will continue to increase the heat-related hazards and associated morbidity and mortality, with extreme heat events becoming a more regular feature in summer months worldwide. Whilst mitigating climate change is an essential step, heat related illnesses are largely avoidable with the implementation of appropriate, effective, accessible, and sustainable heat mitigation strategies combined with appropriate education.
To alleviate heat strain, training in an environmental chamber which can simulate heat, or cooling with the use of air conditioning is recommended, however this overlooks the reality that the most vulnerable populations and those who are required to work outside e.g., farmers, firefighters, and military personnel will not have access to such facilitates. Furthermore, these activities further exasperate the global warming issue with the associated increase in greenhouse gases.
Identifying and assessing the effectiveness of more sustainable and accessible heat mitigation strategies is an urgent priority and a key feature within the proposed programme of research. Furthermore, existing heat mitigation guidelines are underpinned by research conducted almost exclusively in men, without consideration of issues associated with the biological and phenotypical sex differences such as the menstrual cycle, and menopause. Making steps to reduce this social exclusion of females is an essential priority for sex equality and this proposed programme of research.
Female Heat Mitigation