Recent data from the New York state health department has revealed a concerning trend of increased heat-related emergency room visits and calls, coinciding with the onset of a blistering and unusually prolonged June heat wave. On Monday, heat-related emergency room visits surged by a staggering 215% compared to an average June day in the state, with 41 visits recorded as opposed to the usual 13.
State health officials have also noted a rise in heat-related emergency services calls in the past few days, indicating a growing impact of the heat wave on public health. The most significant increases in emergency room visits were observed in central and western New York regions, although the statistics do not encompass New York City. However, city officials have reported a similar uptick in heat-related illnesses during the May to September period in recent years.
The scorching temperatures, with Monday seeing the mercury soar into the 90s across the state, have exacerbated the situation. Syracuse even set a new daily record high of 94 degrees, underscoring the intensity of the heat wave. From May 1 to June 17, the state has witnessed a total of 694 heat-related emergency room visits, marking a 72% increase from the average of 403 visits during the same period.
Climate data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center indicates that the past month ranks among the ten warmest on record for New York state, further emphasizing the severity of the heat wave. These figures serve as a stark reminder of the significant health risks posed by extreme heat. In the United States, heat-related incidents claim more lives than any other weather-related disaster, a trend that is expected to worsen as global temperatures continue to rise due to the burning of fossil fuels.
