Extreme Heat Safety

Learn how to stay safe during a heat wave and how to treat heat-related illness like heat exhaustion.

If you need heat resources, call 211.

Extreme Heat Response: Saving Lives in Arizona and New Mexico

Our mission is simple: Get to zero deaths every summer from extreme heat. The American Red Cross, alongside our community partners, is working to save lives through neighborhood outreach and life-saving education, guided by the principle of Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Red Cross volunteer standing next to an older person who's using a walker.

The Urgency of Extreme Heat

Extreme heat is a disaster for which U.S. cities, including Phoenix, are not fully prepared.
The Risk of Blackouts: Studies show that a multi-day power blackout concurrent with a heat wave could:
- More than double the estimated rate of heat-related mortality.
- Potentially require medical attention for over 50% of the urban population in Phoenix.

Our Focus: Our efforts are strategically concentrated on:
- Connecting vulnerable residents to vital resources.
- Managing chronic illness exacerbated by heat.
- Preventing heat-related deaths.

2026 Heat Walk Plan: Where We're Going Next

The 2026 Heat Walk plan focuses on providing bilingual doorstep education and warm, consented referrals to the most vulnerable communities, including those with the highest rates of indoor heat-related deaths.

Family of four holding Red Ctross signs.

Red Cross volunteer under umbrella handing out a bag to a child.

Join a Heat Walk in Central Arizona

Get ready for summer and help your neighbors stay safe. Join a Heat Walk—a short, bilingual (EN/ES) door-to-door outreach where volunteers share simple heat-safety tips and connect residents to local cooling resources. A brief orientation (in person or virtual) is included.

Mesa

Tempe

Phoenix

Glendale

Buckeye

Special Thanks to Our Partners

Our Impact To Date

Since 2024, our community-led, bilingual doorstep education efforts have reached thousands of homes and distributed critical resources.

Arizona and New Mexico map with pins in it showing the efforts taken to help others.

In 2024, we also distributed 150,000 extreme heat flyers across Central Arizona, Southern Arizona, and New Mexico in both English and Spanish to ensure wide access to preparedness information.

Additional Resources from the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross wants you to take action. Protect yourself, your loved ones and your neighbors by staying connected with your community. It could save a life.

Explore Heat Check

American Red Cross Arizona and New Mexico

Extreme Heat Safety