In a world where the heat is rising, a growing number of people with heat regulation impairments are finding themselves trapped in a scorching dilemma. While most of us can decide with ease where to grab coffee or when to do our weekly grocery shopping, for those living with disabilities, the wrong choice can be a life-threatening situation. Anita Tippl, a 35-year-old South Australian with cerebral palsy and spina bifida, knows this all too well. She loves to socialise, but finding safe public places with air conditioning has been a lifelong struggle. 'My body doesn't regulate temperature like the average person,' she says. 'It virtually just shuts down when it gets too hot.'
But here's where it gets controversial: While some advocate for more accessible cool spaces, others argue that the solution lies in better education about heat regulation and the importance of offering cool and safe spaces for those with disabilities. Anita's experience is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those with heat regulation impairments. When the heat rises, her body shuts down, causing shaking, memory loss, and seizures. 'It really does affect most of my life,' she says. 'I have to plan around the weather more than the average person.'
So, what is thermoregulation? It's the physiological process of keeping the human body cool when exposed to heat and warm when exposed to cold environments. As heatwaves become more frequent, researchers like Fergus O'Connor at Griffith University are calling for greater consideration of creating safe public spaces for those who struggle to thermoregulate. 'Without a doubt, there needs to be greater emphasis on the development of public spaces, and how we keep them cool needs to be considered across the population right from early childhood through to older adults,' Dr O'Connor says.
But it's not just about creating cool spaces; it's also about making sure that information about these spaces is accessible. Anita Tippl believes it's time for a website or phone application similar to the federal government's public toilet map app, which shows public spaces with cool and accessible facilities. 'I know it might seem small, but to us it would be a big thing,' she says. Dr O'Connor agrees, saying that such an idea is feasible and could benefit all Australians.
However, regional constraints pose a significant challenge. Disability support coordinator Lisa Turton has seen clients put off important medical appointments due to the heat. 'Recently, a person needed to attend the hospital but felt it was too hot to call the ambulance because they would have needed their family to transport all of their mobility equipment in the heat, and so that delayed a hospital attendance for 24 hours,' she says. Regional disability support worker Jordan Beech wants to see more inclusive spaces, saying, 'I just want everyone to be inclusive and have that mindset of why can't everyone come into this facility, place or space? [My clients] already have enough going on in their lives, and they shouldn't have to think about that.'
So, while the call for more accessible cool spaces gains momentum, it's clear that the solution requires a multi-faceted approach. From better education and accessible information to inclusive spaces and innovative solutions like portable air conditioning schemes, there's much work to be done to ensure that everyone, regardless of their heat regulation abilities, can thrive in a world of rising temperatures.
