At least 16 people in Louisiana died in June and July from heat-related causes, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Climate and Preventative Medicine Physician Dr. Alicia Van Doren says the heat is a concerning health problem that could get worse over the years because of climate change
“By 2030, places like New Orleans will have about 100 danger days a year. Right now we average about 35 days a year where the heat exceeds dangerous levels.”
Deaths in the last two months have surpassed the state’s average of 10 heat-related death’s a year over the last decade.
From April 1st to July 29th, there were 3,305 heat-caused emergency room visits, compared to an average of 2,700 over the last ten years. Doren says the burden of heat is not shared equally.
“Working age males dominated the most key illnesses in the emergency department. Then when restricting just for workers. A different count but still the same findings.
Black American men, pregnant women, and those with underlying conditions suffer at higher rates. Doren says it’s critical for Louisianans to think of extreme heat like other weather disasters, even in the evening.
“Its just not cooling off enough at night. And that doesn’t allow the body time to recover until more heat the next day. So its sort of like it builds and that’s another thing to take into account.”bl
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