21st Century

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-2-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–426  Blanchard tally based on State and locality breakouts below. *See Blanchard note below.

–413  Hurt, Alyson (NPR), citing National Center for Health Statistics, in Huang, 8-26-2023.

            (Cites CDC National Center for Health Statistics.)

–404  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, Census Region, T67 (heat and light) code.

            —  37  Northeast          —  61  Midwest           –169  South    –137  West

–284  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

[*Our number – no total given. Regions which do not show mean fewer than 10 deaths.]

–273  CDC Wonder. Underlying Cause of Death, State, X30, exposure to excessive natural heat.

–257  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

—  43  KidsAndCars.org. Child [<15] Nontraffic Fatalities by Type & Year. “Heat Stroke.”

—  43  Null, Jan (SFSU Dept. of Geosciences). 2003 Hyperthermia Fatalities; Children in Vehicles.

—  36  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

—  16  Occupational Safety & Health Admin. 2003 Fatality Investigation Summaries.

*Blanchard note on sources: Ours, by necessity, is a compilation from several sources.

(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER database underlying and multiple cause of death searches for T67 and X30. These suffer, however, from the fact that the CDC does not show deaths if the loss of life is less than ten. These deaths, therefore are unknown to us unless found in another source.

(2) The National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Internet searches via the Storm Events Database can be queried. For “heat,” one has to do two searches – one for “excessive heat” and one for “heat.” Frequently the entries in one seem similar to ones in the other. The NCDC also publishes Storm Data, a monthly, electronically accessible.

(3) The National Weather Service, another NOAA entity, publishes tables on heat fatalities. Their figures differ from NCDC figures. None of the NOAA sources is comprehensive for two subsets – children in vehicles and workers, though one can find references to each. Both generally show fewer deaths than CDC Wonder in that primarily what is noted are “direct” deaths attributable to high natural heat (Underlying Cause of Death in CDC parlance). This is the case even for CDC Wonder searches for excessive heat as an underlying cause of death.

(4) For coverage of children dying in cars due to excessive heat exposure we rely on Jan Null and KidsAndCars.org).

(5) OSHA provides more comprehensive coverage of worker heat-related fatalities

(6) Newspaper archives, particularly when looking for end-of-heat-season statements by State Offices of Chief Medical Examiners. Frequently their numbers differ markedly (upward) from CDC, NCDC or NWS figures.

(7) State, County or local Public Heath or Vital Statistic entities (again higher numbers generally noted than can be found in CDC Wonder). 

Note on ICDC Codes used in CDC Wonder Online Database above and below: We use the T67 and X30 codes described below. We use them independently in the “Census Region,” “HHS Region” and “State” locations in the search page. There are two “boxes” to search – ?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; hyperthermia. [Underlying (or primary) cause of death.]

Note further that we show four CDC Wonder searches above, out of more than a dozen which could have been done. From the CDC Wonder homepage one can choose on the left side of the page from “Underlying Cause of Death,” “Multiple Cause of Death,” or “Compressed Cause of Death.” Within these three categories one can search for T67 (heat and light) and/or X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat), or both. These two codes in each category can be further broken out by “Census Region,” “Census Division,” “HHS Region,” “State,” or “County.” Thus, fifteen possible search possibilities result. Usually, the largest number of deaths out of all searches will be found for a Census Region and T67 search.

Summary of Heat-Related Deaths by State (See breakout below)

Alabama              3

Arizona           153

Arkansas           >5

California          39      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

Florida               22      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

Georgia             10      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

Hawaii                 1

Idaho                   1

Illinois              13      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

Iowa                    3

Kansas                 1

Kentucky            1

Louisiana             4

Maryland             3

Mississippi         11      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

Missouri            19      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

Nebraska             1

Nevada              21      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

New Jersey          3

New York           1

North Carolina    2

Oklahoma          12      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

Pennsylvania     19

Tennessee            3

Texas                 64      CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

Virginia               1

Wisconsin            9

Wyoming            1

            Total   426

Breakouts of Heat-Related Deaths by State and Localities, where noted:

Alabama         (   3)

— 3  AL DPH. “Health precautions urged during periods of prolonged heat.” 11-7-2006 mod.[1]

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  Mobile, Aug 19. Heat stroke (medical examiner cited). Construction worker on roof.[2]

Arizona          (153)   (Especially May through August)

— 153  Blanchard tally based on AZ DHS for all counties except Maricopa, using County DPH.

— 149  KJZZ 91.5, AZ (Jung). “Big Drop in Arizona Heat-Related Deaths in 2014.” 5-8-2015.[3]

—   54  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

—   53  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

—   42  CDC Wonder. Underlying Cause of Death, State, X30, excessive natural heat search.

—     0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 129  AZ DHS. Deaths from Exposure to Excessive Natural Heat…in Arizona 1992-2009.[4]

Breakout by State or Country of Residence:[5]

                        –50  Arizona

                        —  6  Other U.S State or Canada

–72  Mexico or Other Central or South American Country

                        —  1  Unknown

Breakout by County of Occurrence:[6]

—  1  Apache

—  9  Cochise

—  1  Coconino

–49  Maricopa (Maricopa County Dept. of Public Health.)[7]

            –1  Mesa, July 30. Taylin Lee, 17-months; left in hot van by babysitter.[8]

–29  Maricopa County. CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, County, T67.[9]

–25  Maricopa County. AZ DHS. Deaths from Exposure to Excessive Natural Heat…

–19  Maricopa Co. CDC Wonder. ICD-10/X30, exposure to excessive natural heat.

            —  7  Females.

–12  Males.

—  3  Mohave

–65  Pima

            –1  Tucson, June 29. Female, Alejandra Gutierrez, 6-mo.;[10] in mother’s car.[11]

—  9  Pinal

            –2  Queen Creek, Aug 16. Samantha and Kaitlynn Mills, 2 & 4, car.[12]

—  5  Santa Cruz

—  1  Yavapai

–10  Yuma

            –1  Tacna, July 7. Heat exhaustion; farm worker picking melons, hot day.[13]

            Breakout by Month of Death:[14]

                        —  1  April

            –22  May

            –18  June

–48  July

–29  August

—  8  September

—  3  October

Arkansas        (>5)

—>5  State. AR Department of Health. “ADH Warns of Heat Related Illness,” Aug 2011, p. 2.[15]

—  2  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

—  0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

—  1  North Little Rock, Sep 11. Tavian Johnson, 3;[16] left in day-care center van about 7 hrs.[17]

—  1  Springdale, Aug 8. Brianna Cordell, 3; got in mother’s car at home (mother on computer game).[18]

California       ( 39)

–39  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–35  CA Dept. of Public Health. “Table 5. Heat-related deaths, 2000-2011 (Crude Rates).”

–35  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

–30  CDC Wonder. Underlying Cause of Death, State, X30, exposure to excessive natural heat.

—  9  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

—  5  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

            –1  San Bernardino County, near Amboy Crater, July 5. Male hiker.[19]

            –1  San Bernardino County, July 12. Male, 18, after vehicle became stuck in desert.[20]     

            –1  San Bernardino County, July 14. Male; truck disabled in desert; tried to walk home.[21]

            –2  San Bernardino County, July 20. Male and female. Truck became stuck in desert.[22]

— 1  Irvine, Aug 8. Michael Warschauer, 10-months; father forgot and left boy in car at work.[23]

— 1  Lancaster, July 8. Nehemiah and Dakota Prince, 3 and 5;[24] left in SUV by foster mother.[25]

— 1  Yucaipa, CA Dept. of Corrections, Aug 11. Heat exhaustion; prisoner doing fire training.[26]

Florida            (22)

–22  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–19  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

–18  CDC Wonder. Underlying Cause of Death, State, X30, exposure to excessive natural heat.

—  8  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

—  1  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

            –1 Coastal Dade Co., Feb 17. Baltimore Oriole pitcher, during conditioning drills.[27]

Breakout of Florida Heat-Related Fatalities by Locality (where noted):

— 1  Citronelle, Aug 13. Laurel Jurban, 4-months; left in car by aunt who fell asleep at home.[28]

— 1  Fort Lauderdale, April 19. Chelcie Ambrosio, 10-mo.;[29] left in car while mother shopped.[30]

— 1  North Port, June 30. Timothy Andrashko, 2;[31] got into family car in home driveway.[32]

— 1  Orlando, June 11. Dominique Royals, 2;[33] left by daycare workers in van several hours.[34]

— 1  Sebring, Oct 9. Hyperthermia; Chance Kilakai, 2, got into family car at home, 86° day.[35]

— 1  Tallahassee, June 12. Heatstroke; male garbage collection employee; temps. ~90°.[36]

— 1  Winter Haven, April 6. Devontrius Nelson, 3;[37] heat exhaustion;[38] trapped in family car.[39]

Georgia          (10)

–10  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

—  0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

—  1  Lawrenceville, May 8. Brianna Williams, 15-months;[40] father forgot and left in car.[41]

Hawaii            (  1)

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  Kailua, Oct 13. Heat exposure; girl, 10-mo; left in car by mother 6 hrs.; forgot to go to sitter.[42]

Idaho              (  1)

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  Boise, July 30. Hunter Kelly, 2-months; mother forgot and left boy in her vehicle, hot day.[43]

Illinois            (13)

–13  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–11  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

—  4  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

            –1  Cook County, June 24-25. Male, 66, permanent home.[44]          

            –2  Cook County, Chicago and Skokie, Aug 25-26. Male 58, female, 92, in homes.[45]

–1  St. Clair County, East St. Louis, Aug 26. Male 49, outdoors.[46]

Iowa                (  3)

— 3  Radio Iowa. “Cold temps cause more deaths than heat in Iowa.” 7-25-2005.[47]

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

Kansas            (  1)

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  Valley Center, July 14. Alyssa Dillman, 22-mo.; left in SUV by father 8 hours; 109° day.[48]

Kentucky       (  1)

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  Eminence, June 6. Construction worker after 8 hours moving materials, sawing lumber.[49]

Louisiana       (  4)

— 4  State. LA DHH. Heat Stress: Hospital Admissions…and Deaths in Louisiana. 2012, p. 9.[50]

— 0  State. National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

Maryland       (  3)

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 3  Baltimore Sun (S. Dance). “15 Md. heat-related deaths tallied this summer…” 9-17-2013.[51]

Minnesota      (  0)

— 0  Minnesota Department of Health. Heat-related Deaths: Facts & Figures. 2015.[52]

Mississippi      (11)

–11  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–10  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

—  0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

—  1  Tupelo, June 25. Daniel Hamrick, 8 months;[53] mother left in minivan at work.[54]

Missouri         (19)

–19  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–19  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

–17  NWS CRH, Kansas City, MO. Summer Weather Safety. “[MO] Heat Related Deaths.”[55]

–13  CDC Wonder. Underlying Cause of Death, State. X30, exposure to excessive natural heat.

–12  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

—  1  Clay County, July 26-27. Heat-related causes; male, 53, outside.[56]

—  6  Jackson Co., Kansas City metro area. AP. “Kansas City reports first heat-related death.”[57]  

–1  Jackson County, July 9-11. Heat-related causes; female, 94.[58]

–2  Jackson County, July 14-18. Heat-related causes; males 37 and 79 in their homes.[59]

–2  Jackson County, Aug 17-23. Females 85 and 88 in their homes.[60]

—  1  Saline County, July 4-5. Male, 86; heat indices in “the 105 degree range.”[61]

—  1  St. Louis, July 6. Male, 78; at home with body temperature of 111 degrees.[62]

—  1  St. Louis, outside Busch Memorial Stadium, July 6. Male, 54.[63]

—  1  St. Louis, July 9. Male, 80.[64]

—  1  St. Louis, Aug 15-21. Male, 31 at home.[65]

—  1  St. Louis County, Aug 15-21. Male, 50, outside.[66]

Nebraska        (  1)

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  North Platte, June 11. Jayden Swartwood, 4;[67] got into trunk of mother’s car at home.[68]

Nevada           (21)

–21  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–21  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

—  3  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

            –2  Clark Co., June 18. Males, 53, 57, hiking ~hour without water; ~100° temperature.[69]

            –1  Clark County, July 29. Girl, 2, left in back of car two hours.[70]

–21  Clark County. CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, County, T67 heat and light code.

—  1  Clark Co., Las Vegas, June 5. Boy, Hayden Fish, 7 months;[71] father left in car at work.[72]

—  1  Clark Co., Las Vegas, July 14. Male renovation worker; internal body temp. 106° at hosp.[73]

New Jersey     (  3)

–0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

–3  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

–2  East Orange, Aug 15. Dylan and Derrick Strothers, 1 & 2; father forgot, left them in car.[74]

–1  Lebanon, Aug 16. Heatstroke (body temp. 108°); roofer installing hot asphalt roof 2:30 PM.[75]

New York       (  1)

–1  Owego, Sep 2. Heart attack induced by heat stress Aug 27. Firefighter, after being relieved.[76]

–0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

North Carolina (2)

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  Fayetteville, July 9. Kenneth Pratt, 2;[77] left in car by parents, 96° day.[78]

— 1  Washington, July 10. Heatstroke; male construction worker.[79]

Oklahoma      (12)

–12  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–12  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

—  3  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

            –1  Carter County, July 7. Female, 83, in or near her vehicle.[80]

–1  Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City, July 20. Homeless male, 45, on house porch.[81]

–1  Oklahoma County, Harrah, July 23. Female, 86; noting hot temps and indices.[82]

—  1  Glenpool, Aug 28. Braden Tucker, 5-months; mother forgot and left him in car at work.[83]

Pennsylvania  (19)

–19  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–18  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

—  7  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

            –2  Philadelphia, June 27. Females, 77 and 78 at home; windows closed; no AC.[84]

            –1  West Chester, Chester Co., June 27. Male, 96; home with windows closed, no AC.[85]

            –4  Philadelphia, July 4-9. Males, 69, 75, 88; female, 86; all at home.[86]

—  7  Philly. Philadelphia Inquirer. “7 more deaths tied to the heat…” Philly.com, 6-13-2008.

Tennessee       (  3)

— 3  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  Cordova, July 9. Heatstroke; male ditch digger; no shade.[87]

— 1  Memphis, June 25. Amber Cox-Cody, 2;[88] hyperthermia, left in daycare van ~8 hours.[89]

— 1  Nashville, July 9. David Gordon, 22-months;[90] left in van by mother at child care center.[91]

Texas              (64)

–64  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, T67 (heat and light) code.

–63  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.[92]

–62  TX Dept. State Health Svcs. “Heat-Related Deaths by County…2003-2008.” 12-5-2011.

—  1  Bee County        (Breakout by County of Death Occurrence):

—  2  Bell

—  2  Bexar

            –1  San Antonio, July 13. Heatstroke, military dog kennel employee.[93]

—  1  Brazos

—  2  Cameron

            –1  Brownsville, Sep 14. Destiny Castillo, 21-mo; left by parents in truck.[94]

            –1  Harlingen, July 30. Catherine Vreeland, 2-mo; left in car by mother.[95]

            –1  La Paloma, Aug 18. Judith Sanchez, 18-mo.; family car in driveway.[96]

—  1  Coleman

—  4  Dallas

            –1  Duncanville, Aug 20. Jordan Thomas, 8-months; left in van by daycare driver.[97]

            –1  Lancaster, May 30. Alan Devon Brown Jr., 2;[98] left in daycare van 2 hrs.[99]

—  5  Dimmit

—  1  Donley

–10  El Paso

            –1 El Paso, Aug 10. Kendall Paredes, 14-mo; parents left in car 9 hrs.[100]

—  6  Harris

—  1  Hays

—  2  Hidalgo

            –1  McAllen, July 21. Heat stress; male concrete flat-worker.[101]

—  1  Hood

—  1  Howard

            –1  Big Spring, Aug 1. Isaiah Castillo, 4-mo.; mother left in car hot day.[102] 

—  1  Kenedy

—  2  Kinney

—  1  McLennan

—  1  Midland

—  1  Moore

—  2  Nueces

—  1  Potter

—  1  Rockwall

            –1  Rockwall, June 25. Heat stress; male landscaper at work.[103]

—  1  Starr

—  1  Tarrant

            –1  Hurst, July 11. Intense heat; Mafi Manu, 3; in van, 96° day.[104]

—  1  Tom Green

—  5  Travis

            –1  Austin, June 18; Chloe Abbott, 2;[105] left in daycare SUV by employee.[106]

            –1 Austin, June 25. Allen Basinger, 4; [107] got in mother’s car while she napped.[108]

—  3  Webb

—  1  Wichita

            –1  Wichita Falls, Aug 8. Heatstroke; male press operator at work.[109]

—  1  Williamson

–59  CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, State, X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat).

–44  CDC Wonder. Underlying Cause of Death, State, X30, exposure to excessive natural heat, .

–15  Harris County. CDC Wonder. Multiple Cause of Death, County, T67 heat and light code.

—  0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

—  1  Gonzales County, Gonzales, July 29. Male ground maintenance worker, 100° heat index.[110]

Virginia          (  2)

— 2  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

— 1  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

            –1  Clarke Co., near Loudoun Co. border, June 30. Female, 15, hiker.[111]

— 1  Fredericksburg, June 13. Anthony Mazzarella, 3;[112] found in father’s car, died on 19^th.[113]

Wisconsin       (  9)

— 9  WI DEM. “Wisconsin Heat Awareness Day June 12, 2014” (Press Release). 6-4-2014.

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

— 1  Middleton, Oct 8. Alexia R. Weum, 6-months, left in car by mother at work, warm day.[114]

Wyoming        (  1)

— 1  Douglas, July 17. Heat exhaustion; male oil well worker after working all day outdoors.[115]

— 1  July 18, Bennie Singleton, 19; heat-stress related heart attack; oil well worker, 100° day.[116]

— 0  National Weather Service. 2003 Heat Related Fatalities. 8-3-2015 modification.

On Heat:

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 (>103^ºF [>39.4^ºC]); 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.^[117] 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:

1. Heat cramps. Mild and easy to treat, this level involves fevers generally under 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Heat exhaustion: Involves fevers over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, often with vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue.
3. 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….”

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St. Petersburg Times (Jorge Sanchez), “Baby dies in sweltering car,” 8-14-2003. Accessed 10-21-2015 at: http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/14/Tampabay/Baby_dies_in_swelteri.shtml

State of Tennessee, Shelby County Criminal Court. “In the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Jackson on Briefs December 5, 2006. State of Tennessee v. Atoya L. Every and Charlie Letez Fleming…Filed June 28, 2007.” Tennessee Bar Association. Accessed 10-23-2015 at: http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/2007/everya_062907.pdf

State of Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Division of Emergency Management. “Wisconsin Heat Awareness Day June 12, 2014” (Press Release). 6-4-2014. Accessed 9-2-2015 at: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov/heat/docs/HeatAwarenessDay2014Release.pdf

Sun Sentinel (Shannon O’Boye and Jaime Hernandez), FL. “Baby Girl Locked in Hot Car Dies. Mom Could Face Murder Charges.” 4-26-2003. Accessed 10-24-2015 at: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-04-26/news/0304260107_1_hot-car-murder-charges-baby

Texas Department of State Health Services. “Heat-Related Deaths by County of Death, 2003-2008.” 12-5-2011 update. Accessed 9-26-2015 at: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/vstat/Hotcolddths/occcounty.shtm

TheLedger.com, Lakeland, FL. “Devontrius Nelson, 3 (Obituary).” 4-10-2003. Accessed 10-24-2015 at: http://www.theledger.com/article/20030410/OBITS/304100001

TheLedger.com (Merissa Green), Lakeland, FL. “Medical Examiner Rules Toddler’s Death in Car Accidental.” 4-8-2003. Accessed 10-24-2015 at: http://www.theledger.com/article/20030408/NEWS/304080308

THV11 (Carol Phillips), Little Rock. “DHS Issues New Daycare Regulations.” 9-19-2003. Accessed 10-20-2015 at: http://archive.thv11.com/news/article/7152/0/DHS-ISSUES-NEW-DAYCARE-REGULATIONS

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. Accessed 8-31-2015 at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/injviosaf/Documents/HeatPlanAssessment-EPIC.pdf

Tucson Citizen, AZ (A. J. Flick). “Mom of infant left in car called ‘good mother’.” 7-19-2003. Accessed 10-23-2015 at: http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/2003/07/19/89501-mom-of-infant-left-in-car-called-good-mother/

Tulsa World (Cary Aspinwall). “Infant left in hot SUV dies.” 8-29-2003, updated 10-4-2013. Accessed 10-21-2015 at: http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/infant-left-in-hot-suv-dies/article_3fcd991e-6ce1-510f-9499-0cfefe8fe9b4.html

[1] Credits the Health Department’s Center for Health Statistics.

[2] OSHA. “Inspection: 306471293 – Ads, LLC.” 2003 Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries.

[3] From table “Arizona Deaths From Exposure to Excessive Natural Heat,” based on data from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

[4] From Table 1, “Characteristics of deaths from exposure to excessive natural heat…in Arizona…1992-2009,” p. 15.

[5] Table 1, “Characteristics of deaths from exposure to excessive natural heat…in Arizona…1992-2009,” p. 15.

[6] Table 1, “Characteristics of deaths from exposure to excessive natural heat…in Arizona…1992-2009,” p. 16.

[7] Maricopa Co. DPH. Heat-Associated Deaths in Maricopa County, AZ, Report for 2010. December 2011, p. 5. County DPH notes they count direct heat deaths and indirect heat-related deaths, and also include homeless, also noting these factors may explain the difference between their figures and others.

[8] Null; East Valley Tribune (Kasandra Joyner), AZ, “Babysitter who left toddler in hot van gets jail.” 4-11-2008. EVT article writes that the babysitter was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to charges of negligent homicide. Notes that “other children in the day care were taken inside to go to the bathroom and take naps.” The care giver “was talking on the phone with her mother when she forgot about the baby in the van. She did not remember the child until about an hour afterward.”

[9] Highlighted to note we are not using in the tally – using, instead, Maricopa Co. Dept. of Public Health number.

[10] Null, who notes the temperature that day reached 96 degrees.

[11] Tucson Citizen, AZ (A. J. Flick). “Mom of infant left in car called ‘good mother’.” 7-19-2003. Writes that according to relatives she took one child from the car when she arrived home but forgot the baby, who she discovered about 5½ hours later, after falling asleep.

[12] Null, who transcribes Arizona Republic article by Shawn Day, titled “2 sisters die after climbing into parked car,” dated 8-16-2003. Notes “Temperatures in the area reached 99 degrees…according to the National Weather Service.”

[13] OSHA. “Inspection: 305743247 – The Growers Co., Inc.” 2003 Fatality/Catastrophe Investigation Summaries.

[14] Table 1, “Characteristics of deaths from exposure to excessive natural heat…in Arizona…1992-2009,” p. 16.

[15] “There have been between five and twenty-three deaths attributed to heat in Arkansas in every year since 2001.”

[16] Jan Null, who notes temperatures reached 91 degrees that day.

[17] THV11 (Carol Phillips), Little Rock. “DHS Issues New Daycare Regulations.” 9-19-2003.

[18] Null; Workbench. “Christina Cordell [mother]: ‘A Survivor of Everquest [Internet game] Addiction.’” Another source notes that “On Sept. 29, 2004, a jury found Cordell guilty of a lesser charge of negligent homicide [had been marched with manslaughter after “spending about three hours playing an Internet computer game while her daughter was unattended”]; she was sentenced to pay a $100 fine, one year of supervised probation, and court-appointed counseling and parenting classes.” (Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette (Dave Perozek). “Adults Face Charges For Child Deaths.” 11-26-2012 – in “cases” sidebar.)

[19] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, California, San Bernardino T SW & X SE, July 5, 2003.

[20] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, California, San Bernardino T SW & X SE, July 12, 2003.

[21] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, California, San Bernardino T SW & X SE, July 14, 2003.

[22] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, California, San Bernardino T SW & X SE, July 20, 2003. Notes: “The truck a man and a woman were riding in became stuck near the Twentynine Palms Air-Ground Combat Center. They tried to walk for help, but were overcome by the heat and died.”

[23] Null, who notes outdoor temperature of 91°; Associated Press (Allen G. Breed and Martha Mendoza). “2 Deaths, 2 Outcomes in Heated Car Cases.” Washington Post. 7-28-2007.

[24] Null, who notes temperatures reached 100 degrees that day.

[25] Los Angeles Times (Sue Fox and Allison Hoffman). “Foster Mother is Held in 2 Deaths.” 7-10-2003. LA Times article notes that the children were left “in a sweltering sport utility vehicle next to the center [child-care center operated by foster mother] for more than five hours.”

[26] OSHA. “Inspection: 300863222 – CA Dept. of Corrections.” 2003 Fatality/Catastrophe Investigation Summaries.

[27] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Florida, Coastal Dade County, Feb 17, 2003.

[28] Null; St. Petersburg Times (Jorge Sanchez), “Baby dies in sweltering car,” 8-14-2003.

[29] Jan Null, who notes outdoor temperatures reached 84 degrees that day.

[30] Sun Sentinel (Shannon O’Boye and Jaime Hernandez), FL. “Baby Girl Locked in Hot Car Dies. Mom Could Face Murder Charges.” 4-26-2003.

[31] Null, who notes temperatures reached 91 degrees that day.

[32] Herald Tribune (David Hackett), Sarasota, FL. “Child’s death ruled accidental. The 2-year-old boy was trapped in a car in his driveway last month.” 7-16-2003. Article writes that the boy and six siblings had been left under the supervision of his 13-year-old brother, while father was at work and mother was shopping with two daughters.

[33] Jan Null, who notes outdoor temperature that day reached 93 degrees.

[34] Malkin, Michelle. “Day Care or Toddler Death Centers” Human Events, 7-17-2003. Notes “the temperature [in van] reached an estimated 140 degrees” and writes the “operators misled them [detectives] by claiming the boy had crawled into the van by himself while playing hide-and-seek with other children.”

[35] Null; Highlands Today (Brad Dickerson). “Deadly Heat.” Tampa Tribune, 6-11-2009, which notes that the father, “who was watching both Chance and his 3-month-old brother while his wife went to work…,” fell asleep. Toddler went outside and into unlocked car. When the father found the boy he said his skin felt like it was burning up.

[36] OSHA. “Inspection: 306745555 – Waste Management of Leon Co., Inc.” 2003 Fatality Investigation Summaries.

[37] Jan Null, who notes the outdoor temperature reached 87 degrees that day.

[38] TheLedger.com. “Devontrius Nelson, 3 (Obituary).” 4-10-2003.

[39] TheLedger.com (Merissa Green) “Medical Examiner Rules Toddler’s Death in Car Accidental.” 4-8-2003.

[40] Jan Null, who notes outdoor temperature that day was 85 degrees.

[41] From Jan Null transcribed article titled “Father probed in death of toddler left in car.”

[42] Null, who identifies the victim as Anuhea Paet and the outdoor temperature as 88°. Also: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, “No charges for woman who left baby in car.” 1-29-2004.

[43] Null, who notes temperatures reached 105°; NW Cable News (Robbie Johnson), “Boise mom admits to leaving baby in hot car, sentence 3 years probation, 120 hrs community service,” 9-26-2003. NWCN notes the baby died of hyperthermia “after being left inside an SUV outside his mother’s workplace for 8 hours.”

[44] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Illinois, Cook County, June 24-25, 2003.

[45] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Illinois, Cook County, Aug 25-26, 2003.

[46] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Illinois, St. Clair County, Aug 24-28, 2003.

[47] Iowa Department of Public Health spokesman Kevin Teale reviewed the records and he says in the last five years there’ve been 13 heat-related deaths in Iowa. Three occurred in 2003.

[48] Null; Ark Valley News (Jessica Lindsey), Valley Center, KS. “VC man charged in girl’s death.” 11-6-2003.

[49] OSHA. “Inspection: 306519273 – T&M Contractors, Inc.” 2003 Fatality Investigation Summaries.

[50] From Table: “Heat Stress: Deaths, Louisiana, 1999-2010.” Following pages break fatalities out by 9 LA Regions.

[51] Cites State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

[52] There is no date, but the tables in the document are for 2000 to 2014 (May-September). We thus assume 2015.

[53] Null, who has the date as June 26, and the outdoor temperature reaching 90 degrees.

[54] Daily Journal (Camille Comer and Sandi P. Beason), Tupelo, MS. “Infant found dead in car in hospital parking garage.” 6-25-2003. Article notes that according to the Lee County Coroner, the baby was found at about 4 p.m. on Wednesday 25^th] in the minivan in a hospital parking lot where the mother worked. He was taken to the emergency room where he was pronounced dead

[55] Cites as source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

[56] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, Clay County, July 26-27, 2003.

[57] “In 2003…six people in the metro area died from the high temperatures, department officials said.” Quoted Jackson County, MO, Medical Examiner’s Office in first paragraph as source of information.

[58] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, Jackson County, July 9-11, 2003.

[59] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, Randolph, July 14-18, 2003.

[60] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, Jackson County, Aug 17-23, 2003.

[61] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, Saline County, July 4-5, 2003.

[62] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, St. Louis City, July 3-9, 2003.

[63] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, St. Louis City, July 3-9, 2003.

[64] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, St. Louis City, July 3-9, 2003.

[65] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, St. Louis City, Aug 15-21, 2003.

[66] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Missouri, St. Louis, Aug 15-21, 2003.

[67] Jan Null, who notes outdoor temperature reached 81 degrees that day.

[68] North Platte Bulletin (Frank Graham). “Mother arrested for felony abuse in child’s trunk death.” 7-13-2003. Article notes the by’s body temperature was measured at 105 degrees at the hospital he was taken to.

[69] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Nevada, X SE & EC Clark, June 18, 2003.

[70] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Nevada, C Clark, July 29, 2003; Null, who identifies victim as ShyAnn Rayner. Newspaper article notes the girl was “left in a hot car for two hours” on July 28 and died in a hospital the next day. Article writes “the girl’s mother went to pick up her roommate’s child from school about 3:30 p.m. Monday. She had other children with her and forgot to get ShyAnn out of the car when they returned to their apartment…” Las Vegas Sun (Jen Lawson). “Girl, 2, dies; case expected to go to DA.” 7-30-2003.

[71] Jan Null, who notes the outdoor temperature that day reached 98 degrees.

[72] Las Vegas Sun (Ed Koch). “Deadly lapse of memory,” 10-4-2005. Notes that the father, a high school teacher who was supposed to have dropped his son off at daycare, forgot.

[73] OSHA. “Inspection: 306786658 – Helix Electric.” 2003 Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries.

[74] Null; New York Times, “Man Charged In the Deaths Of Sons in Car,” 8-19-2003. NYT writes the father was arraigned on manslaughter and endangerment charges after leaving sons in car “for more than two hours in a vehicle in 90-degree heat…” He had left work and picked up the children from a baby sitter, but was called back for an emergency, and forgot to take the children back to the baby sitter.

[75] OSHA. “Inspection: 306736695 – Mike’s Roofing, Inc.” 2003 Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries.

[76] OSHA. “Accident: 170744783 – Fire Fighter Dies of Heart Attack Induced by Heat Stress.” 2003 fatality reports.

[77] Null.

[78] Associated Press, Fayetteville, NC. “Parents lose car after kids left inside.” 7-12-2003. AP article notes two other siblings were also left in the family car and were at the time of writing in critical condition.

[79] OSHA. “Inspection: 307215517 – Coastal Builders Contractors, Inc.” 2003 Fatality…Investigation Summaries.

[80] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Oklahoma, Carter County, July 7, 2003. Notes “Hot temperatures killed an 83 year old woman after she became disoriented and drove down an oil field service road where she became trapped, eventually succumbing to the heat.”

[81] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Oklahoma, Oklahoma County, July 20, 2003. Notes outdoor temperatures reached 106 with even higher heat indices.

[82] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Oklahoma, Oklahoma County, July 23, 2003.

[83] Null; Tulsa World (Cary Aspinwall), “Infant left in hot SUV dies,” 8-29-2003, updated 10-4-2013. Tulsa World article notes “Weather data reported an outdoor temperature of 99 degrees about the time the baby was found in the SUV…The heat index was 106, and investigators estimated that the temperature in the vehicle could have reached 140 degrees. The baby was left in the SUV for at least eight hours, police said.”

[84] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, June 23-27-2003.

[85] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Pennsylvania, Chester, June 24-27, 2003.

[86] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, July 4-9, 2003. Notes “…most neither had working fans or air conditioners.” Also notes temperatures in the area were in mid-to-upper 90s.

[87] OSHA. “Inspection: 306775750 – Panola Construction Co.” 2003 Fatality…Investigation Summaries.

[88] Jan Null, who notes outdoor temperatures reached 90 degrees that day.

[89] State of Tennessee, Shelby County Criminal Court. “In the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Jackson on Briefs December 5, 2006. State of Tennessee v. Atoya L. Every and Charlie Letez Fleming…Filed June 28, 2007.”  Tennessee Bar Association.

[90] Jan Null.

[91] GoMemphis.com. “Nashville daycare worker forgets own child in car child dies.” 7-9-2003. Writes the mother forgot to take her child out of car and into the center, of which she was a co-owner.

[92] We use Texas Department of Health Services figure of 72 plus one OSHA reported heatstroke death in Gonzales. We do not include the deaths of nineteen illegal immigrants who died of heat, suffocation and dehydration in a hot and nearly airless milk trailer in Victoria, Texas May 13-14.

[93] OSHA. “Inspection: 307954214 – Keith Whitaker R V Center Inc.” 2003 Fatality…Investigation Summaries.

[94] Null; Associated Press (Brownsville), “Parents arraigned in toddler’s death,” Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 9-16, 2003. The AP article notes the parents told police “they were out partying Saturday night and forgot the girl was in the back seat of their truck when they returned home at 6:45 a.m. Sunday.”

[95] Null; Brownsville Herald (David Robledo), TX, “Attorney defends two women charged with killing their own children,” 11-29-2003. Brownsville Herald article notes that the mother left her daughter “inside a car parked at a Target store while she went inside to apply for a job. The child died of heat exhaustion.”

[96] Null; Brownsville Herald (by Fernando Del Valle, of Valley Morning Star), TX, “Toddler dies after being left in car.” 8-19-2003. Brownsville Herald story notes “Investigators said the mother of the 18-month-old girl told them the child climbed into the car alone Monday afternoon, a time when outside temperatures were in the high 90s…” A Cameron County Sheriffs Department spokesperson said “The windows were closed and the doors were closed…”

[97] Null; MyPlainview, TX. “Day-care center closed after tot dies in hot SUV.” 8-28-2003. MyPlainview article notes: “State regulators have shut down a Dallas cay-care center after a toddler was found dead in the back of a sun-baked sport-utility vehicle. Child-welfare officials closed the T&T Tots Day Care and Learning Center…a week after the death of 8-month-old Jordan Thomas. The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services said its staff believed the center was unsafe. ‘We know at this point that there were minimum standards that were not in place,’ [said an ] agency spokeswoman…The driver…has been charged with felony injury to a child in the Aug 20 incident….Investigators believed…[driver] picked up the boy, but forgot to drop him off at the center. Officials there apparently were not aware the baby was missing until a relative arrived to pick him up. That led to a call to…[the driver] who was in Duncanville and discovered the body in the vehicle…”

[98] Jan Null, who notes outdoor temperature that day as 100 degrees.

[99] Dallas Morning News (Ian McCann). “Child-care workers set to turn selves in – attorney outraged by $1 million bail (2 year-old child died).” 6-6-2003. Notes employees forgot to take child out of van after return from field trip.

[100] Null, who notes atmospheric temperature of 97°; El Paso Times (Daniel Borunda), “Baby’s parents arrested,” 8-13-2003 (Free Republic 8-14-2003 post).

[101] OSHA. “Inspection: 306841321 – T & D Moravits.” 2003 Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries.

[102] Null; Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (John Reynolds), “Autopsy report reveals 4-month-old Big Spring boy died of excessive heat.” 8-6-2003. Newspaper article notes the temperature in Big Spring that day reached 97 degrees.

[103] OSHA. “Inspection: 305466682 – Salame Garcia.” 2003 Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries.

[104] Null, who provides transcription of news article datelined from Hurst, 7-13-2003, titled “Intense heat cited in death of girl found in van.” Impression is that the girl wandered off into the van.

[105] Jan Null, who has outdoor temperature that day as reaching 90 degrees.

[106] Malkin, Michelle. “When Day Care Turns Deadly.” Philly.com, 7-14-2003.

[107] Jan Null, who has outdoors temperature that day as reaching 94 degrees.

[108] From news article in Null dated June 6, 2003 and titled “Death of boy found in family car ruled accidental.”

[109] OSHA. “Inspection: 123398703 – Tranter Phe., Inc.” 2003 Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries.

[110] OSHA. “Inspection: 306064395 – Gonzales Manufacturing Co.” 2003 Fatality and Catastrophe Summaries.

[111] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Heat, Virginia, Clarke, June 30, 2003.

[112] Jan Null, who has outdoor temperature that day as 80 degrees.

[113] From article on Null website entitled “Spotsylvania probes boy’s death,” by Kari Pugh, published June 19, 2003.

[114] Null; Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, “Day care license suspended,” 7-26-2008. Journal Sentinel article sidebar notes the mother said she was sleep-deprived, under a great amount of stress and forgot her daughter was in the car.

[115] OSHA. “Inspection: 305655276 – Bill’s Hydraulic Specialist Service.” 2003 Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries. Most probably a reference to Bennie Singleton. OSHA, has an “Open Date” of July 18, which may have led to the July 18 date in the Ray Ring report. The fatality, though, occurred on July 17.

[116] Ring, Ray. “Fatalities in the energy fields: 2000-2006.” High County News, University of Montana, 4-2-2007.

[117] Cites IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change). 2014.