Increased risk for heat-related illnesses and deaths as temperatures rise: Data

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — With potential record high temperatures expected this weekend, the danger for heat-related illnesses and even death increases — and it’s only going to get worse as temperatures get more extreme due to climate change.

According to data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services on heat-related deaths in Utah from 2019 to 2024, a total of 47 people died in the past five years of heat-related illnesses in Utah.

The most common heat-related causes of death were hyperthermia (heat stroke) and dehydration.

The five counties with the most heat-related deaths during that time were:

• Salt Lake County, 11 deaths
• Washington County, eight deaths
• Grand County, seven deaths
• San Juan County, five deaths
• Utah County, four deaths

Dr. Casey Londer, who has practiced emergence medicine for 15 years, told ABC4.com that the most vulnerable populations to heat-related illnesses are the elderly, people with comorbidities, children, and pets.

Heat is most deadly when the temperatures are highest — the summer — but there are several times within the summer that cases of heat-related illnesses go up, Dr. Londer said.

The first of those times is “the very end of spring or beginning of summer, when people are sort of not really used to how hot it is,” Dr. Londer said. He added that it’s especially bad when the temperatures increase suddenly.

The second wave is the end of July to the beginning of August, when “when we get those long, dry heat waves that never end, and I think those are sort of dangerous for a bunch of reasons,” Dr. Londer said. Homeless populations are especially at risk, as are people without air conditioning in their homes.

“I think we’ve seen in the emergency department during these really hot kind of prolonged heat waves, higher numbers of folks coming in,” Dr. Londer said.

As temperatures continue to increase year after year due to climate change, heat is only going to become more dangerous.

“The hotter it gets, the more you see heat injury. I mean, that’s just the common sense basics,” Dr. Londer said.

How to stay safe

As with many issues, the first step to staying safe is having information and planning.

“Recognition is a big initial precaution… is just sort of knowing what the weather is going to be so you can plan your day,” Dr. Londer said. This applies of course to something like planning to bring water on a hike, for example, but it is also important to plan any time you are going to be in the heat and recognize the risks.

Plan to go outside early in the morning or late in the evening and taking a long break in the day, making sure your AC unit is in working order, and getting HVAC filters cleaned are a few other precautions that Dr. Londer mentioned.

“If you’re in the middle of a prolonged heat wave and your AC goes out, and you can’t get someone to come help you for a few days, then you could potentially be at risk,” Dr. Londer said.

It is also important to know the signs of heat stroke and heat illness, according to Dr. Londer, especially the more severe symptoms such as cramping, heat rash, and extreme fatigue.

If you encounter someone who is suffering from heat stroke, rapid cooling is very important, Dr. Londer said, in addition to replacing fluids with water with electrolytes in it. He also said that removing layers of clothing can help facilitate sweating, because heat stroke can make it so that a person can’t sweat anymore.

However, if it is that severe, Dr. Londer said it is always a good idea to seek medical attention.

As the summer heats up, Dr. Londer suggested that everyone make sure “that you look out for your elderly family members or neighbors, during a prolonged heatwave, just check in with them, make sure they’ve got the resources that they need to stay cool during the hot summer months.”

With temperatures increasing, many people will flock to the water to try to beat the heat, but that can also prove deadly. The Provo River is especially dangerous this weekend due to seasonal high-water levels.

The Utah County Sherriff’s Office is warning the public to be careful. They said to watch your kids, stay away from the water, and keep pets on a leash. Sergeant Dallin Turner with the Utah County Sherriff’s Office told ABC4.com, “One slip is all it takes.”