Researchers at the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences at Boston University (USA) have conducted a study, the findings of which have showed that homeless people become the first victims of extreme heat, Planet Today reports.

The study was published on the AJE portal and included data on deaths among the homeless in the hot US states of California and Nevada, including such large metropolises as Los Angeles and Las Vegas. These cities were not chosen randomly; they have a high percentage of people living on the streets, and the climate is characterized by high temperatures, especially in the summer months.

In the course of the research, experts studied mortality rates and came to the conclusion that hot weather considerably increases the number of deaths among the homeless.

The researchers noted that although the link between high temperatures and homeless mortality was expected, the scale of this problem was shocking. Their estimates are 10 to 100 times higher than known indicators in general in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, they said.

To reduce the number of heat victims, researchers have proposed such measures as water stations accessible to all, the expansion of green urban areas, the use of light-reflecting materials to paint buildings, and the setting up of special cooling centers that will be accessible to all segments of the population.

These tips can be important steps in the fight against the consequences of global warming, which is felt most acutely by vulnerable groups, including homeless people.