India's Heat Crisis: Smartwatches Monitor Health in Vulnerable Neighborhoods

Smartwatches for Heat Health Monitoring

• ⌚ Smartwatches are being distributed to participants to assess their heart rate, sleep quality, and physical activity over time.
• 💡 This initiative focuses on a slum area where households are particularly vulnerable to heat exposure due to housing and socioeconomic conditions.

Impact of Heat on Health and Livelihoods

• 🌡️ Participants report experiencing acidity, body aches, and general illness due to the extreme heat, leading to significant financial strain from medical expenses and lost workdays.
• 💰 The financial burden of heat-related illnesses can prevent individuals from advancing economically.

Cool Roofs as a Mitigation Strategy

• 🏠 The project involves applying cool roof materials to selected households to evaluate their effect on indoor temperatures.
• ✅ The impact of cool roofs is being assessed on indoor temperature, as well as the health, economic, and well-being parameters of the residents.

Addressing the Public Health Concern of Heat Waves

• 📈 Heat waves are identified as an increasing public health concern in India, necessitating prioritization of climate change adaptation.
• ⚠️ The project aims to provide data and solutions to combat the detrimental effects of extreme heat on vulnerable populations.