Consider This from NPR Three Stories From A Very Hot July
Aug 6, 2023
July became a record-setting heat nightmare, causing chaos across the globe. An emergency doctor in Phoenix reveals the dire health impacts of extreme heat, with heat strokes skyrocketing. A Vermont store manager shares harrowing stories of devastating floods disrupting lives. Meanwhile, an Indigenous leader discusses wildfires decimating crucial hunting grounds in Quebec. Each narrative sheds light on the urgent climate crisis and the pressing need for community resilience amid these escalating disasters.
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ER Burnout & Social Systems
- Dr. LoVecchio's ER experienced burnout similar to the peak of COVID, due to extreme heat.
- Many homeless patients with mild heat illness waited days for shelter beds, highlighting social system faults.
Asphalt Burns
- The extreme heat in Phoenix caused asphalt to reach 160°F.
- This led to numerous contact burns and a full burn center, according to Dr. LoVecchio.
Heatstroke Surge
- Phoenix ER doctor Frank LoVecchio saw a surge in heatstroke cases this July.
- He witnessed a rise from 1-2 cases a week to 3-7 cases a day.