As heat waves blanket parts of the US, hospitals across multiple states are grappling with a dramatic increase in heat-related emergencies, a trend highlighted by data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Forecasters anticipate more unseasonably warm weather later this summer.
Interestingly, the regions hardest hit by heat illnesses, as indicated by the CDC’s data, are not necessarily those experiencing the highest temperatures. While the South and Southwest endure scorching temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Mountain West—where temperatures range from the 80s to 90s—that are witnessing the highest numbers of heat-related ER visits. This heat is notably abnormal for mid-June, significantly surpassing historical averages.
For instance, this past Saturday marked a critical point, with hospitals in over two dozen states across six regions reporting “extremely high” rates of heat-related emergencies. These incidents are defined by the CDC as falling within the top 5% of the busiest days for heat-related illnesses observed from 2018 to 2023.
Heat Risks: Buildings and Inexperience
Claudia Brown, a CDC health scientist, explains that the built environments in these areas are ill-equipped to cope with heat, and people’s bodies are less acclimated to high temperatures.
“In more northern regions, for instance,” Brown, who works in the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health’s Climate and Health Program, notes, “there tends to be lower prevalence of home air conditioning. This means that while temperatures may not reach the extremes seen in places like Arizona, the health impact can be greater due to inadequate infrastructure to manage heat.
Amid escalating climate change impacts amplifying both frequency and intensity of heat waves, the CDC introduced a new heat risk tool earlier this year. This online tool allows people to enter their ZIP code to access a heat forecast and receive safety recommendations.
Dr. Cheyenne Falat, an emergency department physician at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, has been witnessing a surge in severe heat-related cases over recent weeks, exacerbated by the city’s recent declaration of a code red heat alert. Cooling stations have been opened for residents in response.
“We’ve treated significant cases of heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses,” said Falat, who specializes in environmental medicine. She anticipates further challenges ahead.
In Baltimore, where substance use disorders are prevalent, individuals can face danger if they consume drugs and become incapacitated in unattended vehicles. Other patients include elderly individuals living in homes without air conditioning, outdoor workers, and individuals who underestimate the heat during outdoor activities.
Falat underscored the seriousness of heat as a health hazard, emphasizing that heat waves claim more lives, on average, than any other type of extreme weather events.
Surviving Extreme Heat: Safety Tips
Dr. William Brady, an emergency department physician at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, also attributes the issue to lack of experience.
If you live in New Hampshire, you’re generally not accustomed to coping with high heat periods,” noted Dr. William Brady, an emergency department physician at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville. “People often don’t anticipate the need to be cautious in hot conditions.”
Dr. Brady highlighted an increase in cases of heat exhaustion at their ER, particularly among individuals who work or exercise outdoors. Symptoms typically include nausea, vomiting, headache, and similar discomforts.
While Dr. Brady hasn’t encountered any cases of life-threatening heat stroke so far, he cautioned that heat exhaustion can escalate to this severe condition. Symptoms of heat stroke include severe headache, rapid heart rate, high fever, confusion, and potential loss of consciousness.
He also noted a rise in patients with pre-existing health issues like emphysema, heart failure, and diabetes, conditions that heighten their vulnerability to heat-related complications.
“We’re definitely seeing more patients who are struggling to cope with the heat,” Dr. Brady added.
With climate change driving longer and hotter heat waves, Americans are facing a significant learning curve regarding heat dangers.
“We understand that high temperatures and humidity can be uncomfortable,” noted Brady. “But we’re not accustomed to perceiving it as a serious threat, unlike other regions of the world.”
Brady recently attended a medical conference in Taiwan where he took a course on managing large crowds and gatherings during extreme heat, aiming to reduce the risk of heat-related injuries.
“This is an emerging issue that we must address,” Brady emphasized. “It poses a considerable danger that demands our attention.
