Keeping Sarasota Cool: Equipping Sarasota for Extreme Heat Conditions

Over the last three summers, our team has interacted with residents in Sarasota County to discuss extreme heat science, safety, and conditions in our backyards. During our outreach events, we also distribute free resources such as cooling towels, cold gel packs, handheld fans, electrolyte packets, and water bottles to help people stay cool. During our conversations, we have heard stories that have echoed the importance of knowing the signs of heat illnesses and being proactive for prevention rather than reacting to arising symptoms later.

“One day my teacher got heat stroke at recess, and the ambulance had to take her to the hospital to feel better.”
“When I work in the yard and mow the lawn, I am motived to finish my work outside and forget to take breaks and become dizzy. My wife worries about me.”
“I garden and pull weeds in the yard often and can use this cooling towel then. Thank you.”

These stories showcase the importance of heat safety information and awareness as an essential public health concern. According to Florida Department of Health records, approximately 34 residents in Sarasota County go to the hospital during the summer months annually due to an extreme heat health concern. Moreover, heat safety education is essential knowledge in our region where extreme heat poses serious risks.

Two women pose next to one another in front of table covered in a blue tablecloth with a green basket and flyers on top on it. The table and the women are outside in a parking lot covered by a blue tent for shade. — Sustainability staff at Venice Farmer’s Market providing shade, cool water, giveaways, and information on extreme heat safety. (Credit: UF IFAS Extension and Sustainability)

Two women in polo T-shirts converse with two residents on either side of a table. The table has papers and information present and a blue tablecloth as a cover. — Sustainability staff members converse with residents of North Port at a community hurricane expo. (Credit: UF IFAS Extension and Sustainability)

Reducing Heat Vulnerability with Community Education

The important work of our team came in response to a heat vulnerability assessment we completed with NASA DEVELOP in 2024. This study identified three “hotspots” in our county (North Sarasota, Venice, and North Port) that not only experience higher land surface temperatures than the areas surrounding them due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect but also have a higher number of individuals more susceptible to health risks of extreme heat conditions. These more vulnerable groups include children, the elderly, unhoused populations, athletes, outdoor workers, and people with existing health conditions.

Since 2024, we have reached over 1,400 Sarasota County residents with extreme heat education and resources on the topics of extreme heat science, risks, and safety prioritizing locations and populations that are most vulnerable to negative impacts of heat. With the help of many community partners, we have reached these prioritized locations and populations across the county together and equip Sarasota County with resources and education, reducing their health risks heat and increase resilience in response to the extreme heat conditions that we experience on a regular basis.

Knowledge in Every Form

cork board has many materials present such as rocks, roof samples, sand, shells, and mulch to display a variety of building materials. — The building materials display asks our audiences the question “How are materials effected by the sun’s rays?” (Source: UF IFAS Extension and Sustainability)

From informational factsheets and webpages to interactive classes and displays, our team has developed educational outreach resources to reach our communities with the topics of extreme heat including a local perspective on cooling center options and heat vulnerability across our county due to the Urban Heat Island effect. Our interactive heat building materials display allows community members to discover the difference in surface temperature from a variety of materials in the built environment. This leads to great discussion with residents on the opportunities to reduce the land surface temperatures (LST) we experience through design and material choices. For example, through prioritizing reflective building materials, tree canopy, and preserving natural lands, we can increase cooling impacts in our neighborhoods. Here is a list of resources and classes we utilize when connecting with residents-

Extreme Heat Factsheet (available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Haitian Creole)
Classes (request our classes using our speaker request form)
- Stay Cool in Sarasota: Hotspots and Safety Tips class
- Heat Quest youth education program
Sarasota County Extreme Heat webpage
Mapping Heat Vulnerability in Sarasota County story map
Building Materials Heat Display
Educational social media series (#StayCoolSRQ)
Blogs on the topic of Extreme Heat

Heat Quest: Empowering Youth to Beat the Heat

A women in a blue polo is actively teaching in a classroom as several students sit in the foreground of the photo in chairs at tables facing the front. A screen displays a presentation. — Sustainability staff visited students at Newtown Estates Park to present the program *Heat Quest*. (Credit: UF IFAS Extension and Sustainability)

To help young people develop an understanding of heat safety and healthy habits at an early age while extending awareness to their families, we developed the youth program, Heat Quest. The program is aligned to science and physical education Florida Sunshine Standards taught in schools to support classroom learning. The program features the following –

An interactive presentation that prompts student-led discussions on heat science, Urban Heat Islands, and proactive heat safety strategies.
How Hot is It? Heat Investigation – this hands-on lesson allows learners to use infrared temperature sensors to discover the variance of heat retention in materials that can influence the land surface temperatures that we experience in our backyards due to different material properties.
Heat Quest freeze tag – a modified game of freeze tag where those who are “the sun” tag others that represent a variety of natural and built elements in a playground staying “frozen” for different time periods due to their relative ability to reflect the sun’s rays (and associated heat) or absorb and retain it.

Two boys stand next each other outside with an orange scientific tool in one of their hands and their worksheet in another. — Students at Newtown Estates Park investigate the variety of surface temperatures observed outside. (Credit: UF IFAS Extension and Sustainability)

Help Us Increase Extreme Heat Awareness

Request our team to visit a group or club you are part of to educate on extreme heat science, risks, and safety by visiting our speakers request page to request our “Stay Cool in Sarasota” or “Heat Quest” classes under “Sustainability.”
Follow UF IFAS Extension and Sustainability on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky) – interact and share our posts on the topic extreme heat safety, science, and news.
Be proactive by modeling and encouraging healthy habitats during heat season helping to protect you, your family, friends, and neighbors.
Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses so you can recognize them in yourself and others and respond accordingly. The American Red Cross also has great information on heat illnesses and proactive safety tips.
Email sustainablesarasota@scgov.net for any questions you may have or to connect with our staff.