Increased levels of heat-related illness in the U.S. this year have been captured by data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Understanding the data: CDC’s Heat & Health Tracker provides real-time health information from emergency departments, serving as an early warning system.
* The CDC analyses anonymized information from electronic health records shared by around 75% of U.S. emergency departments.
* Notable heat-related illness spikes have been observed this summer in the region containing Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, with some of the highest rates seen in the past five years.
Additional insights: Other regions including the Northeast, upper Midwest, and the Rocky Mountain region have reported record rates of heat-related illness in April over the past five years.
* Region 10, which includes the Pacific Northwest and Idaho, recorded record-setting daily heat-related hospital visits for both April and May.
Impact and prevention: Shifts in climate indicate that extreme heat events will become more frequent and intense, causing preventable deaths across the country.
* CDC advises prompt action on symptoms of heat-related illness such as rash, headache, dizziness, or nausea as they can escalate quickly.
* Certain groups, including pregnant individuals, those with lung conditions, young children and the elderly, are more vulnerable to heat-related illness.
Future directions: The CDC is actively working with cities to prepare for intensifying extreme weather due to climate change.
* Through planning, public awareness, and increased air conditioning, they intend to support communities in mitigating the health effects of rising heat levels.
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