2015 – Exposure to excessive natural heat, especially AZ/139; NV/69, TX/64, CA/51 — 567
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-18-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–567 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. Census Region, T67 code search alone (2015).
— 25 Northeast
— 60 Midwest
–249 South
–233 West
–564 Blanchard compilation of State breakouts below.
–517 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. Census Region, T67 and X30 search.
— 24 Northeast
— 49 Midwest
–229 South
–215 West
–477 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. States, T67 code 2015 search.
–433 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. States, X30 code 2015 search.
–424 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. States, T67 and X30 codes search.
–339 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, Results for ICD-10 X30 code 2015 search.[1]
— 45 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities.
— 42 National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC, NOAA. Storm Events Database.
–10 Excessive Heat
–32 Heat
— 24 Null. 2015 Child Vehicular Heatstroke Deaths.
* We draw attention to the cases noted below by OSHA and Noheatstroke.org, of heat stroke and other excessive heat deaths not reflected in CDC Wonder data. Also of note is that State government reporting is frequently higher than CDC Wonder-reported numbers.
ICDC Codes used in CDC Wonder Online Database: (The T67 and X30 codes we use are the “Census Region” and two “State” locations in the search page – Underlying Cause of Death and Multiple Causes of Death – the higher numbers are to be found when using the Multiple Causes of Death option for “Census Region.”)
T67 Effects of heat and light
T67.0 (Heatstroke and sunstroke);
T67.1 (Heat syncope); heat syncope [fainting]; factors include dehydration and lack of acclimatization.
T67.2 (Heat cramp);
T67.3 (Heat exhaustion, anhydrotic); [Note: T67 codes are in the class of “multiple
T67.4 (Heat exhaustion due to salt depletion); cause of death,” meaning, usually, that heat
T67.5 (Heat exhaustion, unspecified); contributed to or combined with another
T67.6 (Heat fatigue, transient); cause of death – such as a heart condition.]
T67.7 (Heat oedema);
T67.8 (Other effects of heat and light);
T67.9 (Effect of heat and light, unspecified)
X30 Exposure to excessive natural heat. [An underlying (or primary) cause of death.]
Summary of Fatalities by State
Alabama 10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
Arizona 139 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Arkansas 20 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
California 51 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Florida 24 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Georgia 13 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Idaho 1 Null, Jan. U.S. “Child Vehicular Heatstroke Deaths” 2015.
Illinois 14 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Indiana 1 Local news report.
Kansas 1 NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Kansas, Miami Co., Aug 3, 2015.
Kentucky 10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Louisiana 11 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
Maryland 2 Null, Jan. U.S. “Child Vehicular Heatstroke Deaths” 2015.
Mississippi 10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
Missouri 15 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Nebraska 1 OSHA. Search for worker “heat” fatalities for 2015.
Nevada 69 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
New Mexico 2 CNN
New York* 10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
No. Carolina 13 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Ohio 9 OH Dept. of Health. “Hot Temperatures Expected…Across Ohio.” 7-20-2016.
Oklahoma 15 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Oregon 1 NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Kansas, Miami Co., Aug 3, 2015.
Pennsylvania 4 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities.
So. Carolina 15 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Tennessee 24 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
Texas 64 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
Vermont 1 Watertown Daily Times, NY. “Watertown native…heat exhaustion.” 9-22-2015.
Virginia 14 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
Total 564
*NY note: The 2023 NYC Heat-Related Mortality Report, New York City Environment & Health Data Portal, NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy, notes that “Each summer, on average, an estimated 350 New Yorkres die prematurely because of hot weather.” Notes that on average there were 7 heat-stress deaths, those caused directly by heat,” and “about 345 Heat-exacerbated deaths (caused indirectly by heat aggravating an underlying illness).” The CDC data we note does not include these “heat-exacerbated deaths.”
Breakout of Fatalities by State and Locality (where noted)
Alabama 10
–10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. Results for ICD-10 T67 code 2015 search.
–10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search
Arizona 139
–139 Blanchard tally using AZ DHS for all of state except Maricopa County, which we use.
–132 AZ Dept. of Health Services. “Heat-Caused & Heat-Related Deaths in Arizona” 2015.
–83 Heat-Caused Deaths
–49 Heat-Related Deaths.
–88 AZ resident
–44 Non-AZ resident.
–77 Maricopa County
–29 Pima County
— 7 Yuma County
— 94 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. Results for ICD-10 T67 code 2015 search.
— 89 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
–64 Maricopa County.
— 58 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
— 48 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, 2015 Results for ICD-10 X-30 code.
–27 Maricopa County.
— 3 National Climatic Data Center, NOAA.
— 2 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities.[2]
Breakout of Arizona Heat-Related Fatalities by Locality:
— 2 Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Aug 1. Male, 66, female, 65, van stuck on dirt road.[3]
–84 Maricopa Co. Maricopa Co. Public Health. Heat-Associated Deaths… Final Report for 2015.
–56 Maricopa County. Blanchard tally of breakouts below.[4]
–55 Maricopa County. Maricopa Co. DPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.[5]
–1 Maricopa Co., March. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–1 Phoenix, Apr 20. Alpha Koryor, 30-mo.; left by father (had been drinking) in car.[6]
–1 May 24-30. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report
–2 May 31-June 6. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–3 June 7-13. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report
–5 June 14-20. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report
–8 June 21-27. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report
–6 June 28-July 4. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report
–5 July 5-11. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–7 July 12-18. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–2 July 19-25. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–3 July 26-Aug 1. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–2 Aug 2-8. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report
–1 Phoenix, Aug 7. Kelsie Cook, 7-mo.; left by parents in minivan at home.[7]
–3 Aug 9-15. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report
–4 Aug 16-22. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–1 Aug 23-29. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–1 Aug 30-Sep 5. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
–1 Sep 6-12. MCDPH. Oct 25-31 Weekly Heat Associated Deaths Report.
Maricopa County breakout of heat related fatalities by age range (MCDPH):
— 2 0-19
— 5 20-34
— 3 35-49
–20 50-64
— 6 65-74
— 8 75+
Maricopa County breakout of heat related death by type of location:
–18 Indoors
–33 Outdoors
— 4 Unknown
Arkansas 20
–20 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–19 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
–16 State. CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, 2015 Results for ICD-10 X-30 code.
— 2 State. National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities.[8]
— 1 Hot Springs, July 24. Thomas Naramore, 18-months; left in family car by parents.[9]
— 1 Lonoke County, July 10. Excessive heat; Female, 73, permanent home. NCDC SED.
California 51
–51 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–47 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search
–38 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, X-30 code 2015 search.
— 4 Farm-worker deaths under investigation by CA Industrial Relations Dept. as heat-related.[10]
–1 Thermal, Sep 21, male farm worker, Jamie Nuño-Sanchez, 1st day after summer break.[11]
— 1 Pomona, June 21. Kiara Li, 3; left by parents in back of car upon returning home ~4 hrs.[12]
Florida 24
–24 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–20 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
–16 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, X-30 code 2015 search.
— 1 Deltona, Sep 18. Trenton Cason-Collins, 6-months. Left in SUV over 6 hours by cousin.[13]
— 1 Hiland Park, Bay Co., June 2. Reagan Buckley, 18-months; left in car by mother at work.[14]
— 1 Lake City, May 12. Girl, 16-months; forgotten and left by parents in hot car at home.[15]
— 1 Lauderhill, July 8. Nico Weaver, 11-months; left in car by mother at least one hour.[16]
Georgia 13
–13 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–11 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search
— 2 Null.
–1 Chickamauga, Sep 5. Hyperthermia; boy, 11-mo.; left in car by grandparents.[17]
–1 Hephzibah, Sep 20. Ja’Karheyonna Hougues-Double, 8 mo.; left in car by godmother 7 hrs.[18]
— 1 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities.[19]
Idaho 1
— 1 Spirit Lake, June 11. Boy, 3, wanders off into mother’s (Samantha Renee Lewis) car.[20]
Illinois 14
–14 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–12 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search
— 1 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities. Notes in “other” category.
— 3 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
— 1 Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, Cook Co., July 26. Esta Johnson, 73, in her home.[21]
— 1 Brookfield, Cook Co., July 17. Heat stress/hypertensive cardiovascular disease; female, 70.[22]
— 1 Shumway, Effingham Co., July 13. Heatstroke; female, 78, fell into ravine, was trapped.[23]
Indiana 1
— 1 Pike High School, Indianapolis, July 6. Heatstroke, Collin Kelly, 14, football practice.[24]
Kansas 1
— 1 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities. Notes in “other” category.
— 1 Osawatomie area, Aug 3. Boy, 15, riding bike, had complained of feeling too hot.[25]
Kentucky 10
–10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Louisiana 11
–11 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–11 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search
— 1 Baton Rouge, June 5. Heatstroke; Angel Green, 22-months; forgotten, left in daycare van.[26]
— 1 Norco, March 17. Male, 45, refinery pipefitter, wearing 3 layers of clothing and chem. suit.[27]
Maryland 2
— 1 Baltimore, June 22. Leasia Carter, 2; Left in car by father for at least 24 hours.[28]
— 1 Edgemere, Baltimore Co., Aug 21. Paris Bena Hall, 13-months; foster mother left in car.[29]
Mississippi 10
–10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
Missouri 15
–15 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–12 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
–10 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
— 1 “ National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities. In “other” category.
— 3 Kansas City, Jackson County (one confirmed, two pending investigation determination).[30]
–1 Male, 59. Being investigated as “third possible heat-related death in the city this summer.”[31]
–1 Kansas City, June 10-11. Elderly female. NCDC Storm Events Database.
— 1 Nemo, Hickory Co., Aug 1. David H. Abel Jr., 10-months; parents left boy in hot vehicle.[32]
Nebraska 1
— 1 Omaha, June 9. Male laborer, moving company, moving goods from residence to trailer.[33]
Nevada 69
–69 Blanchard. Using CDC WONDER Multiple Cause X30 (53) which shows 47 deaths in
Clark County, meaning there were 7 deaths elsewhere. We add these 7 to the
Clark County Coroner’s report of 62 in that county to derive a total of 69.
–62 Clark County. Clark County Coroner’s Office. Cited in Las Vegas Review-Journal. 6-30-2022.
–53 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
–47 Clark County
–50 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–45 Clark County
–16 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
–14 Clark Co. CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, County, X-30 code.
–25 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities.[34]
–47 Clark Co. CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
–45 Clark Co. CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–44 Clark Co. AP. “Vegas Coroner Sees Spike in Heat-Related Deaths.” KOLO8, 8-31-2015.
— 2 Clark Co., Las Vegas, June 19-30. Female, 75, permanent struct. (direct); male, 45, indirect.[35]
–11 Clark Co., Las Vegas Valley, July 1-4 (Direct heat-related causes.) NCDC SED.
Males, 30, 55, 55, outdoors;
Males, 56, 60, 63, 64, 71, 74, in permanent homes;
Female. 84, in permanent home.
Male, 48, in permanent structure;
— 2 Clark Co., Las Vegas Valley, July 1-4 (Indirect heat-related causes.) NCDC SED.
Male, 65, outdoors; details of 2nd indirect death not provided.
— 3 Clark Co., Las Vegas, July 14-15. Female, 50, outdoors; female 57, home; male, 20, structure.[36]
— 3 Clark Co., Las Vegas, July 26-28. Male, 65, outdoors; male, 88, home, female, 64, structure.[37]
— 3 Clark Co., Las Vegas, Aug 5-6. Males, 66, 70, outside; male, 80, permanent home. NCDC.
— 2 Clark County, Las Vegas vic., Aug 16-17. Males, 55, permanent home; 74, vehicle/trailer.[38]
— 1 Clark Co., Las Vegas, Aug 11. Male, 84, outdoors. NCDC Storm Events Database, Heat.
— 1 Clark County, Las Vegas, Aug 24. Male, 63, vehicle/towed trailer. NCDC SED, Heat.
— 1 Clark County, Las Vegas, Aug 27. Seth Franz, 4; left asleep strapped into back of pickup.[39]
— 2 Clark County, Las Vegas, Sep 3-8. Males, 49 and 64, outdoors. NCDC Storm Events Data.
— 1 Clark Co., Las Vegas, Sep 12. Male, 39, permanent structure. NCDC Storm Events Data.
New Mexico 2
— 2 Alkali Flat Trail, White Sands National Monument, Aug 9. David Steiner, 42, and wife.[40]
New York 10
–10 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
North Carolina 13
–13 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–12 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
Ohio 9
–9 Ohio Dept. of Health. “Hot Temperatures Expected This Week Across Ohio.” 7-20-2016.
–1 Macedonia, Sep 23. Jayce Markell Benjamin, 8-mo.; left in car 10 hrs., at workplace lot.[41]
Oklahoma 13
–15 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–13 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
— 1 Del City, Aug 29. Ashanti Hunt, 5 mo.; left in hot car by mother at home; 90° outdoors.[42]
— 1 Norman, June 28. Heatstroke complications; male, 38, in his apartment.[43]
Oregon 1
–1 State. National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities. “Other” category.
–1 Greater Portland, June 7-9. Heat-related drowning; male, 22, Clackamas River ~Gladstone.[44]
Pennsylvania 4
— 4 State. National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities. 2 “other,” 2 homes.
— 3 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
— 2 National Climatic Data Center. Storm Events Database. Excessive Heat and Heat searches.
— 1 Philadelphia, July 20. Female, 88, permanent home. NCDC Storm Events Database, PA.
— 1 Philadelphia, July 20. Male, 64 (citing “officials”).[45]
— 1 Philadelphia, Sep 2. Male, 68. NCDC Storm Events Database. Heat, PA, Philadelphia.
So. Carolina 15
–15 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–14 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. X30 code 2015 search.
–10 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, 2015 Results for ICD-10 X-30 code.
— 1 Columbia, June 19. Heatstroke; Amir Sarcuar-Savar-Savour, 4; got into neighbor’s car.[46]
Tennessee (24)
–24 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–23 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, X30 code 2015 search.
— 2 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities. Permanent homes.
— 1 Shelby County, just before June 26, noting heat advisory had been in effect most of week.[47]
— 2 Whitehaven area, Memphis, July 26. Eddie and Annette Carr, home with broken AC.[48]
Texas (64)
–64 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
–38 CDC WONDER. Underlying Cause of Death, X30 code 2015 search.
–10 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
— 5 National Weather Service, NOAA. 2015 Heat Related Fatalities.[49]
— 1 Austin, Aug 6. Hyperthermia; Stewart Carylton, 3-months; left in car by care-giver.[50]
— 1 Burleson, Aug 23. Zachary Elshaarawi, 5. Autistic boy got into family car at home, 100°.[51]
— 1 Corpus Christi, Sep 8. Alex Rodriguez Jr., 4-months; left in hot car by father ~40 min.[52]
— 1 Dallas, July 17. Sekinat Nariyah Raufu, 2; left in hot car by father.[53]
— 1 Haltom City, Tarrant Co., July 19. Heatstroke; Randy Granillo, 25, construction worker.[54]
— 1 Harris Co., July 13. Hyperthermia complications; male, 53, construction worker. NCDC.
— 1 Houston, Harris County, June 24. Male, 59; laborer sorting aluminum cans outdoors, 99°.[55]
— 1 Jacksboro, Jack County, June 7. Heatstroke; elderly male. NCDC Storm Events Database.
— 1 Melissa, Collin Co., July 19. Heatstroke, male, 25; heavy equipment/construction worker.[56]
— 1 Pecos, Aug 11. Heatstroke, Avrian Villalobos, 17-months. Left by mother in very hot car.[57]
— 1 Port Arthur, Jefferson County, June 8. Male, 72, trapped inside car, could not open doors.[58]
Vermont 1
— 1 Jericho, Sep 17. Exertional heat stroke; Kyle D. Young, VE State Police, at firing range.[59]
Virginia 14
–14 CDC WONDER. Multiple Cause of Death. T67 code 2015 search.
Narrative Information
(General)
CDC. “Heat-Related Deaths – [U.S.], 1999-2003,” MMWR, V55, N29, 7-28-2006, 796-798:
“Heat-related illnesses (e.g., heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, or heatstroke) can occur when high ambient temperatures overcome the body’s natural ability to dissipate heat. Older adults, young children, and persons with chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible to these illnesses and are at high risk for heat-related mortality. Previous analyses of the risk factors associated with heat-related deaths have been based on the underlying cause entered on the death certificate. The analysis revealed that including these deaths increased the number of heat-related deaths by 54% and suggested that the number of heat-related deaths is underestimated.
“CDC uses information from death certificates categorized by codes from the International Classification of Diseases to estimate national mortality trends. These data, collected and submitted by states, were used to determine the number of deaths in the United States during 1999–2003 that had exposure to excessive natural heat§ recorded as the underlying cause (code X30 from ICD, tenth revision [ICD-10]), hyperthermia recorded as a contributing factor (ICD-10 code T67) (6), or both….
“Editorial Note: In this analysis, the inclusion of hyperthermia as a contributing cause of death increased by 54% the total number of heat-related deaths during 1999–2003 that would have been counted through inclusion of a heat-related underlying cause alone. Because heat-related illnesses can exacerbate existing medical conditions and death from heat exposure can be preceded by various symptoms, heat-related deaths can be difficult to identify when illness onset or death is not witnessed by a clinician. In addition, the criteria used to determine heat-related causes of death vary among states. This can lead to underreporting heat-related deaths or to reporting heat as a factor contributing to death rather than the underlying cause.
“Continued exposure to excessive heat can lead to hyperthermia or death. Of the heat-related illnesses, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are the most serious. Heat exhaustion is characterized by muscle cramps, fatigue, headache, nausea or vomiting, and dizziness or fainting. The skin is often cool and moist, indicating that the body’s mechanism for cooling itself (i.e., sweating) is still functioning. The pulse rate is typically fast and weak, and breathing is rapid and shallow. If untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke. Heatstroke is a serious, life-threatening condition characterized by a high body temperature (>103ºF [>39.4ºC]); red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating); rapid, strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and unconsciousness. Symptoms can progress to encephalopathy, liver and kidney failure, coagulopathy, and multiple organ system dysfunction. Prompt treatment of heat-related illnesses with aggressive fluid replacement and cooling of core body temperature is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality.
“Many heat-related deaths, regardless of whether they are associated with chronic medical conditions, are preventable. During periods of extreme heat, heat-related illnesses can be prevented by avoiding strenuous outdoor activities, drinking adequate amounts of fluid, avoiding alcohol consumption, wearing lightweight clothing, and using air-conditioning. Groups at high risk include young children, persons aged >65 years, persons who do strenuous activities outdoors, and persons with chronic (particularly cardiovascular) medical conditions.”
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) on Heat-Related Deaths (11-21-2023):
“When people are exposed to extreme heat, they can suffer from potentially deadly illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Hot temperatures can also contribute to deaths from heart attacks, strokes, and other forms of cardiovascular disease. Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, even though most heat-related deaths are preventable through outreach and intervention (see EPA’s Excessive Heat Events Guidebook at: www.epa.gov/heat-islands/excessive-heat-events-guidebook).
Unusually hot summer temperatures have become more common across the contiguous 48 states in recent decades…extreme heat events (heat waves) have become more frequent and intense… and these trends are expected to continue. As a result, the risk of heat-related deaths and illness is also expected to increase.[60] The “urban heat island” effect accentuates the problem by causing even higher temperatures in densely developed urban areas. Reductions in cold-related deaths are projected to be smaller than increases in heat-related deaths in most regions. Death rates can also change, however, as people acclimate to higher temperatures and as communities strengthen their heat response plans and take other steps to continue to adapt.
“Certain population groups already face higher risks of heat-related death, and increases in summertime temperature variability will increase that risk. The population of adults aged 65 and older, which is expected to continue to grow, has a higher-than-average risk of heat-related death. Children are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and death, as their bodies are less able to adapt to heat than adults, and they must rely on others to help keep them safe. People with certain diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, are especially vulnerable to excessive heat exposure, as are the economically disadvantaged. Data also suggest a higher risk among non-Hispanic Blacks.”
Trent, CA Dept. of Health Services on Heat-Related (HR) Illness: “HR illness is described according to three stages of increasing severity:
- Heat cramps. Mild and easy to treat, this level involves fevers generally under 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Heat exhaustion: Involves fevers over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, often with vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue.
- Heat stroke: A severe and life-threatening failure of body’s ability to cool (e.g., sweating ceases), with fevers over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat stroke can result in organ and neurologic damage and lead quickly to death.” (p. 3)
“Exertional heat stroke tends to occur among younger (under 50 years old), healthier persons who develop heat stroke after strenuous activity and inadequate hydration. The result is dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Exposures may involve work or recreational activities outdoors.
“Classic heat stroke tends to occur among persons who are older (over 50 years old), frail, and with chronic diseases. They may take medications, have psychological or cognitive problems, and live alone. They are assumed to have a compromised thermoregulatory response due to their age, illnesses, and medications. They generally are not in an air conditioned space when discovered with heat stroke symptoms or deceased.” (p. 5)
(Trent, Roger B., Ph.D. (CA Dept. of Health Services). Review of July 2006 Heat Wave Related Fatalities in California. Sacramento, CA: Epidemiology and Prevention for Injury Control Branch, California Department of Health Services, May 2007.)
Associated Press (Anita Snow and Kendria Lafleur), Mishmash of how US heat deaths are counted complicates efforts to keep people safe as Earth warms.” 8-13-2023:
“….Even when it seems obvious that extreme heat was a factor, death certificates don’t always reflect the role it played. Experts say a mishmash of ways more than 3,000 counties calculate heat deaths means we don’t really know how many people die in the U.S. each year because of high temperatures in an ever warming world.
“That imprecision harms efforts to better protect people from extreme heat because officials who set policies and fund programs can’t get the financial and other support needed to make a difference….Currently, about the only consistency in counting heat deaths in the U.S. is that officials and climate specialists acknowledge fatalities are grossly undercounted…
“ ‘It’s frustrating that for 90 years public health officials in the United States have not had a good picture of heat-related mortality because we have such a bad data system,’ said Dr. David Jones, a Harvard Medical School professor who also teaches in the epidemiology department at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
“There is no uniformity among who does the counting across U.S. jurisdictions. Death investigations in some places might be carried out by a medical examiner, typically a physician trained in forensic pathology. In other locales, the coroner could be an elected sheriff, such as the one in Orange County, California. In some small counties in Texas, a justice of peace might determine cause of death. Utah and Massachusetts are among states that do not track heat-related deaths where exposure to extreme heat was a secondary factor.
“The CDC, which is often several years behind in reporting, draws information on heat deaths from death certificate information included in local, state, tribal and territorial databases. The CDC said in a statement that coroners and others who fill out death certificates ‘are encouraged to report all causes of death,’ but they may not always associate those contributing causes to an extreme heat exposure death and include the diagnostic codes for heat illnesses.
“Hess, the Arizona coroner [Pima County medical examiner], said determining environmental heat was a factor in someone’s death is difficult and can take weeks or even months of investigation including toxicological tests. ‘If someone was shot in the head, it’s pretty obvious what happened there,’ Hess said. ‘But when you find a body in a hot apartment 48 hours after they died, there is a lot of ambiguity.’ Hess noted that Pima County this year began including heat-related deaths in its tally of environmental heat fatalities….”
Nevada
NCDC, Nevada, July 1-4: “Temperatures finally fell below Excessive Heat Warning levels on July 1st; however, 13 people died in Las Vegas of heat-related causes during the first four days of the month… (11 direct, two indirect)…” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Nevada, Las Vegas Valley, July 1-4, 2015.)
Pennsylvania
NCDC, Pennsylvania, July 19-20: “Unseasonably hot and humid weather affected most of Eastern Pennsylvania on the 19th and 20th except for the Poconos. High temperatures both days reached into the lower to mid 90s. The 19th was slightly hotter overall and had some of the highest heat indices of the summer. There were two heat related deaths in Philadelphia on the 20th: an 88 year-old female and 64-year-old male. The morning low at Philadelphia International Airport on the 20th was 81 degrees. The combination of heat and humidity brought afternoon heat index values as high as 100F to 105F on the 19th. A dissipating cold front on the 20th brought slightly drier air into the region during the afternoon of the 20th and heat index values peaked around 100F in southeast Pennsylvania. A re-enforcing cold frontal passage on the 21st brought even cooler and drier air into the area and by the 22nd all high temperatures were less than 90 degrees in Eastern Pennsylvania.
“To combat the heat, many counties, cities and municipalities opened cooling centers. The hours of air-conditioned senior citizen centers were extended. In Philadelphia, the Corporation for Aging had councilors and nurses on the phone. In Philadelphia, walking tours in the historic district were cancelled. A 22-year-old man from Virginia drowned after jumping into the Delaware River in Bristol (Bucks County) on the 19th. Highest temperatures included 95 degrees at the Philadelphia International Airport, 94 degrees in Reading (Berks County), Horsham (Montgomery County) and Westtown (Chester County), 93 degrees at the Lehigh Valley International Airport, Perkasie (Bucks County), Coatesville (Chester County) and Nazareth (Northampton County), 92 degrees in Pottstown (Montgomery County) and Saint Davids (Delaware County), 91 degrees in Doylestown (Bucks County) and 90 degrees in Saylorsburg (Monroe County).” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Excessive Heat, PA, Philadelphia, July 19-20, 2015.)
NCDC, Pennsylvania, Sep 2-3: “A run of six consecutive days with high temperatures of 90 degrees or higher in Philadelphia caused the death of a 68-year-old man within the city on the 2nd. The high temperature that day was 93 degrees. The hottest day during that stretch and the entire year occurred on the 3rd when the high temperature reached 96 degrees. A high pressure system behind a backdoor cold frontal passage on the 4th briefly ended the run of 90 degree weather over the weekend (on the 5th and 6th) before it returned again from the 7th through the 9th. In fact the latter hot spell resulted in the hottest day of the year (95 degrees) on the 8th in both Allentown (Lehigh County) and Reading (Berks County). The hot start to September culminated in the 2nd warmest September on record in Philadelphia at 74.5 degrees (5.4 degrees above normal) and the 3rd warmest September on record in Allentown at 69.7 degrees (5.8 degrees above normal). In Reading (Berks County), the September average temperature of 70.3 degrees was 5.0 degrees warmer than normal and in Mount Pocono the September average temperature of 63.8 degrees was also 5.0 degrees warmer than normal. It was the same for the entire state of Pennsylvania. The average temperature of 66.5 degrees (4.7 degrees above average) was the 4th warmest September on record dating back to 1895.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, PA, Philadelphia, Sep 2-3, 2015.)
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[1] These tally to 219, not 339. The reason, as the CDC notes, is: “Data are Suppressed when the data meet the criteria for confidentiality constraints.” As explained elsewhere, any State showing fewer than ten deaths is excluded “to protect personal privacy,” i.e. frustrate attempts to identify individuals. How showing 10 deaths as opposed to 9 protects personal privacy and prevents someone from attempting to identify an individual is a question.
[2] Notes both were in vehicle/towed trailer category.
[3] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Arizona, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Aug 1, 2015.
[4] We believe the difference between our number and MCDPH is our inclusion of April death of toddler in car.
[5] “This heat season (2015), there have been a total of 55 confirmed heat associated deaths.”
[6] Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ. “Police: Dad was drunk when Phoenix child died in car,” 4-21-2015; Null #1.
[7] Null #14.
[8] Notes one was in a permanent home and the other in a vehicle/towed trailer.
[9] KATV 7 (Sarah Chaffin), Little Rock, AR. “Judge Naramore and wife release statement on son’s hot car death.” 9-9-2015; also Null #11, and NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Excessive Heat, Arkansas, Garland, July 24.
[10] Pena, Mauricio. “Death in the Fields.” The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA, 11-19-2015.
[11] Pena, Mauricio. “Death in the Fields.” The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA, 11-19-2015. Notes “Temperatures hovered around 90 degrees, but the humidity made it feel like 105.” Goes on to write “Most every year, Farmworkers die in 90 or 100 degree heat but are never counted as heat-related fatalities by California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA).” Writes: “Riverside County’s coroner attributed Nuño-Sanchez’s death to cardiovascular disease, but co-workers said he vomited and had a headache – signs of heat exhaustion – before collapsing.”
[12] ABC 7, Los Angeles. CA. “Girl, 3, Dies After Being Found in Hot Car in Pomona.” 6-22-2015; also, Null #7.
[13] ClickOrlando.com/News 6 (Erik von Ancken and Mark Lehman). “Mom of baby found dead in SUV at Deltona Middle School speaks out. Teacher inadvertently left 6-month-old in vehicle, officials said.” 9-22-2015. Article notes that the girl had been placed in the care of the 38-year-old cousin (a teacher) six weeks earlier while the mother got “back on her feet.” See, also, Null, #22.
[14] WJHG 7, Panama Beach, FL. “State Attorney Won’t Press Charges Against Jamie Buckley.” 7-21-2015; Null #3.
[15] Florida Times-Union (Dan Scanlan). “Parents of Lake City toddler found dead in car identified as assistant public defender, assistant state attorney.” 5-13-2015; Null #2.
[16] WSVN 7, Miami/Fort Lauderdale. “Baby dies after being left in car in Lauderhill,” 7-8-2015, 9-2-2015; Null #9.
[17] Walker County Messenger/Catoosa County News. “Walker County sheriff: ‘Miscommunication’ apparently led to infant’s heat death in vehicle.” 9-9-2015. According to sheriff, the grandparents, an adult daughter and a grandchild inadvertently left the baby in the car upon returning home from church. “At least two hours later, the mother – who works a night shift and had been sleeping inside the resident – awakened and asked where the child was….” According to authorities the temperature inside the vehicle “soared to between 130-170 degrees.” See also, Null #20.
[18] WRDW-TV (Kelly Wiley and Christie Ethridge) Augusta, GA. “Godmother accused of leaving child in hot car to die skips court.” 12-31-2015. Notes woman was indicted for murder and that “Investigators say Bell had been drinking when she left the baby in the hot car.” See, also Null, #23.
[19] Notes this death was in the “vehicle/towed trailer” category.
[20] Bonner County Daily Bee, ID. “Guilty plea in toddler death case.” 12-19-2015; Null #5.
[21] WGNTV, Chicago. “Third heat-related death in Cook County.” 7-30-2015. notes she died from heat sress on day when temperatures topped 90 degrees F.
[22] La Grange Patch (Morgan Searles), IL. “Summer Heat Claims First Victim in Cook County for 2015.” 7-21-2015. Identifies victim as Darlene Lipske, and notes temperatures in Brookfield reached around 90 degrees F.
[23] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Illinois, Effingham County, July 13, 2015. Notes the ravine was on her property and that the heat index values were 100-105° for nearly 8 hours from late morning through afternoon.
[24] Fox 59, (Wierks), Indianapolis. “Coroner says Pike High School football player died of heat stroke.” 10-15-2015.
[25] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Kansas, Miami County, Aug 3, 2015.
[26] The Advocate (Olivia McClure), Baton Rouge, LA, “Police: Baton Rouge day care owner tried to concoct fake story of how child died of heatstroke.” 6-6-2015. Story notes two employees were later arrested on charges of negligent homicide and owner “was booked on an obstruction of justice count for instructing Wright [one of the employees] to lie to police about where the child was found, according to police.” Also writes “Although Newman recently lost her day care license for ‘problems with ratio of children to attendants,’ she and Wright were caring for at least 15 children on Friday at the day care, according to their arrest warrants. Louisiana law requires facilities that care for more than seven unrelated children to be licensed by the Department of Education.” Also Null #4.
[27] Processing Magazine. “OSHA Fines…Maximum Penalty Over Heat Death at Louisiana Refinery.” 9-28-2015. Cites OSHA Baton Rouge director to effect “While the temperature outdoors was 83 degrees, JV Industrial failed to take into consideration the increased heat stress caused by the specialized clothing being worn by the workers as they cut and removed the piping….A life was needlessly lost because the employer failed to implement a heat management program to protect workers.”
[28] CBS DC. “Father Arrested After 2-Year-Old Dies in Hot Car in Baltimore.” 6-23-2015; also Null #8.
[29] Washington Post (Julie Zauzmer). “Foster child, left in car in church parking lot, dies in Baltimore County.” 8-31-2015. Notes foster mother forgot to take the child out of the car when she arrived at work. See, also, Null #16.
[30] KCTV 5 (D Eckert), Kansas City, MO. “ Possible third heat-related death in Kansas City.” 7-21-2015, 8-20-2015.
[31] KCTV 5 (D Eckert), Kansas City, MO. “ Possible third heat-related death in Kansas City.” 7-21-2015, 8-20-2015.
[32] FreeThoughtProject.com (Justin Gardner). “Judge Who Took Kids from Off-Grid Family…Killed his Own Son and Wasn’t Arrested,” 7-30-2015. Notes that father, a Garland Country circuit judge, admitted to leaving his son in a car. Also, KY3, “Parents are charged for baby’s death in hot car in Hickory County,” 8-5-2015; Null #12.
[33] OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor. OSHA Regional News Release [Region 7]. “Moving company cited in heat-related death of worker,” 8-26-2015. “On or about June 9th, 2015, at a clients residence in Omaha, NE, the employer exposed employees transferring house hold goods from a residence to an enclosed trailer to the recognized hazard of excessive heat; at the time of the incident the heat index reached 112 degrees F. The employees were required to perform the strenuous activity of transferring household goods from the home (air conditioning was turned off within the residence) to an enclosed semi-trailer. During the inspection the internal temperature in the trailer was measured and found to be 10 degrees F higher than the temperature on the outside. Employees were not provided with water and only drank sodas containing caffeine in an attempt to hydrate….”
[34] Notes 8 outdoors, 10 in permanent homes, 3 in vehicles, and 4 “other.”
[35] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Excessive Heat, Nevada, Las Vegas Valley, June 19-30, 2015.
[36] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Nevada, Las Vegas Valley, July 14-15, 2015.
[37] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Nevada, Las Vegas Valley, July 26-28, 2015.
[38] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Excessive Heat, Nevada, Las Vegas Valley, Aug 16-17, 2015.
[39] Fox 5 KVVU-TV. Los Vegas. “Father grieves loss of son killed in hot car.” 8-29-2015, updated 11-7-2015. Left in backseat of truck by grandfather, who apparently forgot the boy was there. Also, Null #18; NCDC Storm Events.
[40] CNN (Melissa Gray). “French couple dies in New Mexico desert; son survives.” 8-10-2015.
[41] Fox 8 TV (Matt Wright) Cleveland, OH. “`I loved my son’: New details after baby found dead in SUV at Macedonia Walmart,” 8-24-2015; Null, #24 — Grandmother’s place of work. Her boyfriend had forgotten to drop boy off at daycare and she was unaware her grandson was strapped into the back seat. “Investigators said the surface temperature of the car seat the infant was in was 120 degrees 50 minutes after Jayce was removed. His body temperature was 100.3 degrees.”
[42] News9.com, Oklahoma City, OK. “Del City police: infant dies after being left in hot car.” 8-31-2015; Null #19.
[43] News 9 (L. Monahan), Oklahoma City. “OU Professor Found Dead After Heat Stroke Complications.” 7-1-2015.
[44] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Area, June 7-9, 2015.
[45] CBS Philly. “Officials: 2 Heat-Related Deaths in Philadelphia.” 8-4-2015.
[46] WIS TV. “Coroner releases cause of death of 4-year-old found in car.” 6-21-2015, updated 7-1-2015; also, Null #6.
[47] WREG TV3, Memphis, TN (George Brown). “First heat related death in Shelby County.” 6-26-2015.
[48] WMC 5, Memphis, TN. “Faulty air conditioner blamed in Whitehaven couple’s death.” 8-28-2015 and 8-29-2015.
[49] Notes two deaths in vehicles and 3 in “other” category.
[50] American Statesman (Philip Jankowski), Austin, TX. “Baby left in car died of heat stroke; caregiver under investigation,” 8-7-2015; also, Null, #13.
[51] CBS DFW, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. “Five-Year-Old Autistic Boy Found in Hot Car Dies,” 8-23-2016; Null #17; NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Texas, Johnson County, Aug 23, 2015.
[52] Caller Times, Corpus Christi, TX. “Services set for infant boy left in vehicle,” 9-14-2015. Article notes the father said he forgot his children were in the car (sister left in car survived) in the home driveway. See, also, Null #21.
[53] Dallas Morning News, TX. “Father arrested in connection to 2-year-old daughter’s death in hot car.” 7-27-2015.
[54] WFAA 8, Dallas-Fort Worth. “Heat stroke cause of Haltom City man’s death.” 8-7-2015. Cites medical examiner. We highlight in yellow to note we are not including in tally in that we think this is probably a reference to the Melissa, Collin County construction worker death of a 25-year-old male noted by the NCDC – probably one account references home of the decedent and the other the location of his death.
[55] Houston Public Media (D. Fehling). “Deadly Heat: OSHA Says Houston Worker Death Preventable.” 9-14-2015. Notes that the victim was hired for the day and “wasn’t used to the extreme heat.”
[56] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Excessive Heat, Texas, Collin County, July 19, 2015.
[57] NewsWest9.com, Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX. “Pecos Mother Charged with Manslaughter after Toddler was Found Dead.” 8-17-2015. Mother told police she was rolling marijuana cigarettes. Another article notes: “The police chief told KWES that when officers tested the car, it registered at 200 degrees.” (KWES NewsWest 9. “Toddler dies after being left in 200 degree heat inside car.” KFOR-TV & K Querry), 8-13-2015.) See, also, Null, #15.
[58] Beaumont Enterprise (Michelle Heath). “Port Arthur man, dog die after being trapped in car.” 6-9-2015. Writes: “A Port Arthur man and his dog died Monday in a maddening and tragic accident after an electronic malfunction trapped them in his recently purchased 2007 Corvette, a car without manual door locks. Police believe James Rogers…72…died of heat exhaustion after Rogers used tools to try to pry himself from the vehicle and attempted to get the attention of passersby at the Waffle House parking lot on Jimmy Johnson Boulevard….Investigators suspect that an unsecured cable became loose when Rogers got in the car and shut the door, causing the Corvette to lose power. That disabled the locks and horn, Clark [Port Arthur PD] said…Since the car was new to Rogers, he was probably unaware of a door release on the floor next to each seat, a function listed in the 2007 Corvette manual…”
[59] Was training at Ethan Allen Firing Range. “Exertional heat stroke” was ruling of Vermont medical examiner. (Watertown Daily Times, NY. “Watertown native Kyle Young’s death due to heat exhaustion from exercise.” 9-22-2015, citing staff and wire reports.)
[60] Cites IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change). 2014.