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We all know it’s pretty hot outside, but have you ever wondered how many people experience heat-related illnesses? Dr. Sundee Winder with the Louisiana Department of Health said you can view trends on how the high temperatures impact individuals on their Heat-Related Illness Dashboard.
“This year we’ve expanded the tool, we’ve made it easier to identify the data, look at demographics, look at specific parishes, regions, etc.,” said Winder.
And if you thought last year was hot, you’re right. Winder said the average number of ER visits for heat-related illness for the last decade was 2,800.
“We went from 2,800 annually to 6,100 in 2023. Record-breaking unprecedented numbers,” said Winder.
The dashboard has been enhanced and this year you can see how many heat-related illnesses there are by the day and the temperature. Winder hopes the dashboard will raise awareness of how the heat can impact your health.
“Last year we saw 88 fatalities and those were all preventable and so we want to get the message out, to prevent deaths. We want to prevent heat-related illnesses as well,” said Winder.
Included with the dashboard are tips on how to avoid heat-related illnesses and guides for employers.
To view the dashboard visit ldh.la.gov/heat
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