Maricopa County sees a decrease in heat-related deaths
MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Fewer people died from extreme heat in the Valley last year, marking the first time Maricopa County has reported a decrease in year-over-year heat deaths since 2014.
When summer comes in Arizona, habits have to change, whether you're walking your dog, like Melissa L'Heureux who says, "Mornings and evenings are the only time you really go out," or surviving outside.
Tanisha Bluehouse says she's been living on the streets of Phoenix for the past two years, and last summer was unbearable: "It was very hot because there's a lot of people that were getting heat strokes."
The county went 113 days with temperatures above 100 degrees. According to new data released by Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 602 people lost their lives to the heat.
The three main groups hurt the most were those who are unsheltered, elderly and those who are using drugs.
Dr. Nick Staab, the Chief Medical Officer for the county, pointed out that more than half of these deaths happened on days where there wasn't extreme heat.
"These temperatures for the whole heat season can be dangerous to members of our community," Dr. Staab declared.
While the number is high, he says it's the first since 2014 that we actually saw a decline in heat-related deaths.
"We had several strategies to increase access to the heat relief network," Staab explained.
Interim Public Health Advisor Yanitza Soto, with the City of Phoenix, said last year, they launched new programs to help people get out of the heat.
"For the first time, the City of Phoenix opened a 24/7 heat respite location. We also had extended our heat cooling centers," Soto said.
Bluehouse says the cooling centers helped her survive the summer: "The cooling center at the library...It was helpful because you can go in and they provide cold water, and it's very cool in there."
Phoenix still plans on expanding operations, including new housing for those unsheltered and continuing its heat relief programs, with many believing they are in for another extreme summer.
