Physiological and perceptual responses to a co-designed mobile cooling hub exposure in people experiencing or at risk of homelessness during extreme heat: A pilot study
1
Heat and Health Research Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
2
Homeless Health Service, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Sydney, Australia
3
Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth, Australia
4
Homelessness Service, City of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
5
Nursing Services, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A398
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
People experiencing homelessness are admitted to the emergency department for heat-related illness at a 27-fold higher rate than those not experiencing homelessness.¹ This pilot study aimed to determine entry-to-exit changes in physiological and perceptual outcomes among people experiencing or at risk of homelessness attending a co-designed mobile cooling hub on days of extreme heat (≥35°C).
METHODS:
Sixty-eight adults experiencing (n=37) or at risk of homelessness (n=31) attended a cooling hub with shaded seating, airflow from electric fans, cold-water misting, and drinking water for a self-determined duration. Physiological outcomes of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (to calculate mean arterial pressure) and core temperature (sublingual or tympanic), and perceptual outcomes of thermal sensation and discomfort, were recorded at entry and exit. Visit duration was calculated from entry/exit times. Hub air temperature and relative humidity were measured each minute to calculate mean apparent temperature over each visit. Linear mixed-effects models examined physiological entry-to-exit differences and the influence of visit duration and apparent temperature. Paired Wilcoxon tests assessed perceptual outcomes.
RESULTS:
Heart rate was lower on exit than entry (p<0.001), and participants reported cooler thermal sensation (p<0.001) and less thermal discomfort (p<0.001). Core temperature remained stable (p=0.386), while mean arterial pressure showed a trend towards a decrease (p=0.089). Visit duration ranged from 23–300 minutes (mean 72 minutes) with no influence on physiological outcomes. Mean apparent temperature exposure ranged from 24–43°C (mean 38°C), with no effect on outcomes except for a slightly higher core temperature (0.02°C) on exit per +1°C (p=0.021).
CONCLUSIONS:
The co-designed mobile cooling hub provided short-term heat relief for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness – participants exited with lower heart rate, reduced thermal discomfort and cooler thermal sensation while maintaining stable core temperature and blood pressure – suggesting it is a promising, community-embedded response during extreme heat.
People experiencing homelessness are admitted to the emergency department for heat-related illness at a 27-fold higher rate than those not experiencing homelessness.¹ This pilot study aimed to determine entry-to-exit changes in physiological and perceptual outcomes among people experiencing or at risk of homelessness attending a co-designed mobile cooling hub on days of extreme heat (≥35°C).
METHODS:
Sixty-eight adults experiencing (n=37) or at risk of homelessness (n=31) attended a cooling hub with shaded seating, airflow from electric fans, cold-water misting, and drinking water for a self-determined duration. Physiological outcomes of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (to calculate mean arterial pressure) and core temperature (sublingual or tympanic), and perceptual outcomes of thermal sensation and discomfort, were recorded at entry and exit. Visit duration was calculated from entry/exit times. Hub air temperature and relative humidity were measured each minute to calculate mean apparent temperature over each visit. Linear mixed-effects models examined physiological entry-to-exit differences and the influence of visit duration and apparent temperature. Paired Wilcoxon tests assessed perceptual outcomes.
RESULTS:
Heart rate was lower on exit than entry (p<0.001), and participants reported cooler thermal sensation (p<0.001) and less thermal discomfort (p<0.001). Core temperature remained stable (p=0.386), while mean arterial pressure showed a trend towards a decrease (p=0.089). Visit duration ranged from 23–300 minutes (mean 72 minutes) with no influence on physiological outcomes. Mean apparent temperature exposure ranged from 24–43°C (mean 38°C), with no effect on outcomes except for a slightly higher core temperature (0.02°C) on exit per +1°C (p=0.021).
CONCLUSIONS:
The co-designed mobile cooling hub provided short-term heat relief for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness – participants exited with lower heart rate, reduced thermal discomfort and cooler thermal sensation while maintaining stable core temperature and blood pressure – suggesting it is a promising, community-embedded response during extreme heat.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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