Scientists have proven time and time again that human behavior, specifically the use of fossil fuels, excessive mining, deforestation, and pollution, is causing climate change and subsequently warming the planet.
Warmer temperatures are bad news for biodiversity, the natural landscape, and the future of the environment as a whole. But many people don’t realize that this increase in heat is also extremely detrimental for people living right now. Heat waves are killing people, and some say death counts are even higher than the reports say.
Summer 2024 Is Already Breaking Heat Records
June and July of 2024 have been two of the hottest months on record. In California, residents have been struggling through 124-degree days; the northeastern state of Maine saw several 98-degree days; Spain and Italy have both broken their own records with several consecutive 111-degree days.
These heat waves are unquestionably the result of the changing climate, and while millions of people are hot and bothered, for some, these temperatures are actually extremely dangerous.
Experts Pay Attention to How Many People Die Due to Heat Waves
Just like cancer, heart attacks, or car accidents, organizations around the world keep track of how many people die due to heat waves.
The National Weather Service tracks the death toll based on weather, doctors note how their patients die, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collects the data of every deceased person, including how they died, in the country. But some say these reports are inaccurate.
Let’s Talk Numbers: Heat Wave Death Count
The CDC reports that approximately 1,220 people die from extreme heat in the United States alone every year. The National Weather Service reports that extreme heat has killed more people in the last decade than any other weather phenomenon.
The World Health Organization explained that over 489,000 heat-related deaths occur annually and that, thanks to climate change, “the number of people exposed to heat waves increased by around 125 million” from 2000 to 2016.
How Are Heat Wave Related Deaths Calculated?
It’s important to understand how organizations calculate the number of people who died due to extreme heat.
Essentially, to be counted as a heat-related death, the antemortem body temperature of the deceased had to be equal to or above 105 degrees. Therefore, many argue that there are actually thousands or even tens of thousands more heat-related deaths happening every year that are not accounted for.
Extreme Heat Causes a Variety of Health Problems
While it is certainly possible to die of heat alone, more often, extreme temperatures cause a variety of health problems that then lead to deaths that aren’t technically considered heat-related.
One example is that high temperatures can cause insomnia, which can lead to accidents. Bharat Venkat, director of the UCLA Heat Lab, explained, “If you fall off a ladder at work because it was a particularly hot night and you didn’t have air conditioning and you didn’t sleep well, that wouldn’t be counted.”
Hot Days and Nights Do Severe Damage to the Body
Even if someone doesn’t get in an accident due to lack of sleep or the heat itself, these constantly warm temperatures can significantly damage the body over time.
Venkat explained, “The stresses on your organs to keep you alive when it’s really hot are intense. When temperatures drop at night, your body has a chance to recover. When you don’t get that, it’s pretty serious… It’s like any sort of mechanical system. If you run it long enough, it will break down.”
Heat Exacerbates Existing Medical Conditions
Additionally, existing medical conditions are often exacerbated by extreme heat. For instance, someone suffering from cardiovascular disease may have a heart attack specifically because of high temperatures.
However, because that person was already diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, that will be the cause of death on their official certificate. Likely, the heat won’t even be mentioned, or it will be buried in the doctor’s notes.
It Is Extremely Challenging to Record Heat-Related Deaths
Sameed Khatana, a cardiologist at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, explained, “Can you say confidently that this particular heart attack happened because of this heat wave and it wouldn’t have happened if that heat wave didn’t occur? That’s a big challenge.”
In other words, doctors find it extremely challenging to correlate a person’s death with warm temperatures unless they specifically died of heat exposure.
“Heat Deaths Are Absolutely Undercounted”
With this information in mind, Venkat said he is sure “heat deaths are absolutely undercounted.” He and many other doctors and medical professionals argue that many more people die every year due to extreme heat than is calculated by organizations like the WHO and CDC.
And as the side effects from climate change continue to worsen and extreme heat becomes the norm, heat-related deaths are only going to increase.
Summer 2024 Is Going to Get Hotter
The summer of 2024 is predicted to be the hottest on record, which is extremely concerning not just for the planet but also for the human race.
Experts want people to know that they absolutely need to follow any and all CDC recommendations to stay safe from extreme heat this summer. But they also hope that by understanding the danger increasing temperatures pose to humans, more will join the fight against climate change.
Another Reason to Fight Against Climate Change
Nearly 81% of people say they are worried about the impact of climate change on future generations, but the truth is that climate change is affecting us right now.
For those who believe climate change is a problem for the future, the fact that hundreds of thousands of people are dying from extreme heat waves should be a wake-up call. Action needs to be taken right now to save millions of people from heat-related deaths over the next decade.
