MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — We may still be a little ways ahead of the start of summer, but the first heat-related death of 2024 has been recorded in the Valley.
The first heat-related death of 2024 in Maricopa County was reported on April 18, six days before the first heat-related death was reported in 2023, according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
By this time last year, the county health department had already confirmed five heat-related deaths and 39 cases were under investigation. Currently, there are two heat-related deaths and 42 cases under investigation.
The two deaths reported in 2024 have been labeled as "heat contributed," which is when heat is listed as a contributing factor in the cause of death. Heat-caused deaths include cases where heat exposure is the direct cause of death.
The county debuted a new heat-related death dashboard, allowing residents to see how many people are dying because of heat-related factors, how many cases are under investigation, heat-related death data from 2023 and even heat-related hospital visits.
“This is a significant new step in tracking the effects of heat on people who live in or visit Maricopa County, which we have been doing since 2006,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director for MCDPH. “This information has helped focus prevention strategies on those at highest risk of heat-related illness and death, and this new approach to visualizing the data makes it easier for our partners to translate data into action.”
The dashboard will replace the weekly heat surveillance reports previously published on the public health website. Now, users can interact with data updated weekly on Tuesdays.
In 2023, Maricopa County recorded the highest number of heat-related deaths ever: 645 people died because of heat-related causes. That's a 52% increase from 2022. And experts are worried this summer could be just as bad, if not worse.
According to a report released in April, 80% of those who died in 2023 were Maricopa County residents and three-fourths were male. The data compiled for 2024 is preliminary and demographic information is not yet available.
Here are a few resources to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in the summer heat:
- How to keep your pet safe in summer heat
- How to prepare your yard for the Arizona heat
- Beat the heat: With triple digits on the horizon, we've got all the ways you can stay cool this summer
- Heat-related illnesses: What symptoms to look for and how to keep yourself safe
- A heat relief hotline: 211 adds heat relief to services
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Heat Beat
Here are several videos about Arizona's extreme heat and how you can stay safe during the state's summer months.
