As summer heat waves continue driving temperatures into the triple digits across multiple U.S. states—creating dangerous conditions for residents and animals alike—researchers are sounding alarm bells over a significant spike in heat deaths in the past decade.
One study published in June revealed deaths caused by excessively hot temperatures soared 56 percent between 2018 and 2021.
Last year, heat killed 1,577 people in the United States. By comparison, 1,012 people died in 2018.
A second report, which reviewed data from millions of U.S. adults from 2008-2017, showed that every day with a heat index of at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit is associated with an average of 1,373 extra deaths per year, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute….