heat stroke
Newsletter
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Rising heat and wildfires pose increasing risks to the elderly
As extreme heat events and wildfires become more frequent and intense, America’s growing elderly population faces escalating health and safety threats.
In short:
- Older adults are especially vulnerable to heat-related injuries, which are increasing alongside global temperature rises.
- Heat exacerbates existing health conditions in older adults, potentially causing thousands of additional deaths annually.
- Community centers with air conditioning and regular check-ins by family or neighbors can help mitigate risks.
Key quote:
“It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, buy central air,’ but people are struggling financially everywhere, so it’s just not an easy fix.”
— Ian Neel, geriatrician and associate professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine
Why this matters:
Extreme heat and wildfires disproportionately endanger older adults, who are less able to cope with these conditions due to mobility issues and chronic health problems. Community support and awareness can significantly reduce heat-related health risks for the elderly.
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Heat rules for workers face election challenge
The Biden administration is moving closer to finalizing a heat protection standard for workers, but the upcoming election could jeopardize its implementation.
In short:
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has submitted a proposal for a national heat stress rule to the White House for review.
- The rule may mandate employer and worker training, acclimatization procedures and heat illness prevention programs starting at an 80°F heat index.
- Political and legal challenges, especially if Trump wins the presidency, could prevent the rule from being finalized.
Key quote:
“When it’s hot outside, it feels even hotter within the warehouses, because of all the machinery. If it’s like 110 outside, then it’s like 10 more degrees inside.”
— Victor Ramirez, former Walmart warehouse worker.
Why this matters:
Extreme heat poses a significant danger to workers, especially those in outdoor or poorly ventilated indoor environments. Heat stress causing a range of illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be fatal. Beyond immediate health risks, chronic exposure to extreme heat can exacerbate existing conditions like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
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Newsletter
Death toll in stifling Texas prisons climbs, Democrats seek investigation
Most Texas prisons lack air conditioning. At least 41 prisoners have died of heart-related or undetermined causes since the unrelenting heat wave began.
Newsletter
Extreme heat and your body: What happens when it gets too hot?
High temperatures can put the body under immense stress. Here’s what that looks like.
Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
How to build heat tolerance
Safely spending some time outdoors when it’s sweltering out could help build up your tolerance to hotter conditions.
Newsletter
Photo by Olga Kononenko on Unsplash
With climate change, health care providers should be more mindful of heat-related illness, doctors say
As the planet warms and more of the United States faces record high temperatures and unprecedented levels of heat exposure, health care providers say now is the time for medical systems to be proactive.
Newsletter
Image by Olya Adamovich from Pixabay
Heat waves: How does extreme heat affect our physical and mental health?
Heat is called the silent killer because we simply don’t know all of its effects on our bodies.
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