![]() ![]() Yet research shows that compared with their thinking about dramatic events such as storm surges and wildfires, people tend to feel more uncertain about what to do under the threat of extreme heat and don't perceive as much personal risk. Studies show that outdoor workers regardless of age are most likely to experience the consequences of extreme heat exposure.Įxtreme heat is the number-one weather-related cause of death in the U.S., and it kills more people most years than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined. But people of all ages can be endangered. The older population is at high risk, and children, who may not be able to regulate their body temperatures as effectively as adults in extreme conditions, are also vulnerable. It also exacerbates existing medical conditions such as hypertension and heart disease and is especially perilous for people who suffer from chronic diseases. a study published in 2021 by the Lancet reports that 356,000 people in nine countries-about half the population of Vermont-died from illnesses related to extreme heat in 2019.Įxposure to extreme heat can damage the central nervous system, the brain and other vital organs, and the effects can set in with terrifying speed, resulting in heat exhaustion, heat cramps or heatstroke. This phenomenon is, of course, not exclusive to the U.S. every year from exposure to extreme heat, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and that figure that will almost certainly increase with the accelerating effects of climate change. Approximately 1,300 people die in the U.S. has been going up since the 1980s-a direct result of the rise in Earth's temperatures. The number of heat-related illnesses and fatalities in the U.S. But such unfortunate deaths are increasingly common. He was 24 years old.Ĭhavez didn't seem like someone at risk for the health effects of extreme heat. Chavez's family said he died from heatstroke as a result of heat exhaustion. ![]() He went unnoticed for 20 minutes before the homeowner at his delivery location saw him and sought medical assistance. ![]() After completing his last delivery of the day, Chavez collapsed off his seat in the cab of the truck. But the city was in the middle of an intense heat wave, and by midafternoon the temperature was higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. On June 25, 2022, Esteban Chavez, Jr., started his day like any other, working his route in Pasadena, Calif., as a driver for UPS. ![]()
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