As intense heat waves become more common, the risk of heat-related deaths is rising.
Deaths from heat-related illnesses in the United States have more than doubled since 1999, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.
“Heat-related mortality rates have been rising steadily since 2016, the researchers noted, with the highest number recorded in 2023, the hottest year on record,” writes Samantha Anderer. The mortality rate rose by 17 percent between 2016 and 2023.
The researchers add that some deaths may be misclassified, so heat-related deaths could be higher. “The researchers noted that the rise in temperatures from climate change would increase these types of deaths even more.”
FULL STORY: Study: Heat-Related Deaths on the Rise in US Since 2016
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