As unseasonably warm temperatures begin to climb, a coalition of health officials, relief workers, and students is hitting the pavement to combat extreme heat.
On Wednesday, the American Red Cross Southern Arizona chapter, the Pima County Health Department, and the City of Tucson launched the first "Heatwalk" of the 2026 season, a day before an extreme heat warning goes into effect.
The campaign sends volunteers to neighborhoods statistically identified as high risk for heat-related emergencies to provide education and resources before the peak summer temperatures arrive.
“The reality is that heat kills more people than any other disaster combined,” said Courtney Slanaker, executive director for the local chapter of Red Cross.
According to the American Public Health Association, extreme heat is also the top killer of people globally when it comes to extreme weather events.
This year’s campaign is refined by a deep dive into local health data, Slanaker said. Organizers analyzed Pima County Health Department and City of Tucson records to identify clusters where EMS crews were frequently called for heat emergencies, as well as areas with high rates of heat-caused or heat-related deaths.
Over the next few months, teams plan to conduct 10 additional walks across various zip codes in Pima County. The initiative follows a successful 2025 season where volunteers visited approximately 1,000 homes, Slanaker said.
Organizers noted that early heat waves, such as those occurring in March, are particularly dangerous because residents have not yet acclimated to the rising temperatures.
A key component of the 2026 campaign is the involvement of University of Arizona nursing students. Lynn Seragara, a nurse with the American Red Cross, explained that students from the UA College of Nursing's Master’s Entry to the Profession of Nursing (MEPN) program are participating as part of their public health coursework.
Molly Ashendorf, a 22-year-old nursing student, said the goal is to be approachable rather than soliciting.
“We’re going to talk to them and see if they have the time to be interested to learn more about what heat prevention is and how to best prepare for that,” Ashendorf said. She emphasized that many people do not realize they are at high risk until a crisis occurs.
Tools for heat safety
Residents who answer their doors are offered a "starter kit" designed to help them stay cool. These kits include sunscreen, lip balm, cooling towels, and instant cold packs.
The kits also include instructions from the UA College of Nursing on how to make homemade electrolytes using common grocery store ingredients—a resource intended to help those who find commercial electrolyte drinks cost-prohibitive.
Slanaker said the kits also include information on how to handle compounding disasters, such as power outages during monsoons.
“The time to plan a disaster isn't when it's happening, it's before,” she said.
Beyond handing out supplies, the program aims to build "social cohesion"—a term she used to describe the strength of relationships between neighbors.
“We’ve seen from disasters all around the country that communities that have really tight social cohesion… are the communities that bounce back faster,” Slanaker said.
Ashendorf added that knowing your neighbor is vital during a power outage or medical emergency.
“Maybe something happened and you need an extra hand to get to the hospital... community is so important to lean on each other when there is a crisis,” she said.
Health officials are urging residents to know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Signs of exhaustion include nausea, headache, lightheadedness, and muscle weakness.
However, heat stroke is a medical emergency that requires a 911 call.
“You actually stop sweating and you can become unconscious,” Slanaker said.
As the 2026 season begins, the message from volunteers is simple: check on your neighbors, especially those living alone.
“It’s not just about the heat,” Slanaker said. “It’s about protecting the whole community”.
