Published study reveals impact of 2023 heat waves in PR learning environments

By THE STAR STAFF

The Caribbean Collaborative Action Network (CCAN) team is celebrating the publication of a new study in the Journal of Climate Health and Change that analyzed the effects of extreme heat on learning environments in Puerto Rico.

Conducted during the unprecedented heat waves of 2023, the study included a survey of students and school staff at schools without air conditioning. The findings revealed symptoms such as fatigue, irrationality, lack of attention, dizziness, and even hallucinations among those surveyed.

“Puerto Rico has experienced recent episodes of extreme heat that negatively impact multiple sectors of society, particularly students and teachers,” said Pablo Méndez Lázaro, the principal investigator at UPR-Medical Sciences and a member of the CCAN and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) CAP/RISA Team, in a Linkedln post. “This collaborative study highlights the frequent climate challenges faced by schools on the island.”

The research was carried out in partnership with academia, federal agencies, the island Education Department, and the Puerto Rico Teachers Federation, with support from the NOAA CAP/RISA program. The study aimed to understand the context, barriers, knowledge, risks, vulnerabilities, perceptions, employee profiles, attitudes and symptoms related to extreme heat in educational settings.

The analysis utilized a mixed-methods approach that included earth observation data and geospatial analysis, an online survey for teachers, administrative staff, and other school employees from various educational settings, as well as participatory activities involving stakeholders, practitioners and decision-makers. The efforts led to co-production of knowledge and development of adaptation strategies.

Results indicated that 36% of schools were exposed to land surface temperatures exceeding 41.4°C (106.5°F), with the southern region showing the highest proportion (50.7%) of schools in high or critical risk areas that lacked adequate air conditioning infrastructure.

Additionally, a survey of 1,226 respondents revealed significant disparities in air conditioning availability, with only 17.28% of private schools and 2.93% of public schools having adequate cooling. Students and staff in non-air-conditioned environments had significantly higher odds of experiencing heat-related symptoms. The most frequently reported symptoms included fatigue (OR=2.53), irrationality (OR=2.40), lack of attention (OR=2.14), and dizziness (OR=2.62; 95% CI: 1.91–3.65).

These findings, the researchers noted, underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve learning environments and serve as a model for adaptation efforts in educational settings across tropical islands.

“Understanding the impact of heat on the population is critical for enhancing the quality of service provided by the National Weather Service to our community,” said Ernesto Morales, the risk coordinator at the NOAA National Weather Service San Juan.