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Phoenix heat could kill you. Know the risks and take precautions
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Phoenix heat could kill you. Know the risks and take precautions

Phoenix is ​​getting hotter and deadlier. If we want to save lives, we need to do a better job of educating people about the risks.

Bryan Yavari and David Sklar
| opinion contributors

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Extreme heat in Arizona is becoming a silent killer, claiming nearly as many lives in Maricopa County in the summer as it does in a year of car accidents.

The Maricopa County Health Department determined that 645 people died from heat in the summer of 2023 in the county. The National Weather Service determined that June 2024 was the hottest June ever recorded in Phoenix, with records dating back to 1895.

The average daytime high temperature was 109.4 degrees, with an average daily temperature of 97. We can anticipate another year of high mortality rates in Maricopa County in 2024 due to heat.

Who is most at risk from Phoenix’s extreme heat?

While there are more and more treatments and medical resources available, the best treatment for heat stroke is to prevent it.

Over the past month, we’ve been studying the different surface temperatures across the city of Phoenix. We’ve found that there are different temperatures on different surfaces that we should all be aware of when walking outside.

Sidewalk with direct sunlight 135 – 140 degrees
Sidewalk in the shade 105 – 110 degrees
Lawn in direct sunlight 125 – 145 degrees
Road asphalt 140 – 150 degrees
Surface temperature

These are the average surface temperatures using an infrared thermometer.

Surface temperatures are higher than outside because the pavement absorbs radiation and heat.

Emergency doctor: Phoenix heat kills. Here’s how to stop it

Precautions can be taken to minimize risk by minimizing exposure to hotter areas. Those most at risk include people who use methamphetamines and fentanyl, but other drugs and medications can increase risk.

Older people, younger people, people with chronic illnesses, those without air conditioning in their homes, and those who work outdoors are at higher risk and should be aware of temperature differences in different outdoor environments.

How to minimize heat stroke and illness

There are many methods that can be used to minimize heat illness. Drinking fluids throughout the day and minimizing time spent outdoors are important ways to prevent overheating.

Other potential resources include umbrellas to protect against direct sunlight, cooling towels that can lower body temperature, and staying in the shade as much as possible.

As our city and county continue to add cooling centers and provide advanced emergency medical services and emergency medical care to those who are victims of the heat, we must also be aware of the risks of various outdoor environments and take steps to keep ourselves and others in our community safe.

To combat this extreme heat, we must come together as a city and look out for each other to make meaningful progress in saving lives.

By prioritizing education, prevention, and accessible resources, we can protect everyone in our community.

Bryan Yavari is a recent neuroscience graduate from Barrett, Arizona State University’s Honors College. He is the research coordinator for Arizona State University’s Infectious Disease Prevention and Public Response Translational Team. Dr. David Sklar is an emergency physician at Valleywise Health and a professor at Arizona State University. Contact them at [email protected] and [email protected].

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