Heat Deaths Due to Climate Change Predicted to Kill Thousands of New Yorkers By 2080, Says Scientists
Climate Change May Cause More Heat Deaths in the Future
Extremely high temperatures in the summer will cause a number of heat-related deaths in New York City. Scientists say at this rate, more and more people will be dying in the future.
The dangers of climate change are coming full force as scientists predict that it will kill thousands of New Yorkers by 2080. When temperatures hit about 90 degrees, more than 3,300 people in New York could die from summer heat deaths every year.
Heat Deaths Caused by Heart Attacks and Heatstrokes
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A Columbia University study posted on the Environmental Health Perspectives found that high temperatures could cause heart attacks and heatstrokes. Those at risk are people with pre-existing conditions, the elderly, children and those whose work involve being outside or in hot places. This means that cities with a high elderly population or sickly individuals are more likely to experience heat-related deaths than other places.
Lead author Elisaveta Petkova and her colleagues looked at heat-related deaths in New York and compared it to the fatal heat wave in Europe that killed thousands of people. Other factors such as gas emissions, population and air condition were considered.
How to Limit Predicted Deaths
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the many preventive measures to stop the temperature from rising. Petkova adds that high levels of greenhouse gas can double heat-related death rates. Deaths could range at more than 3,300 for high-emissions and approximately 1,500 at low-emissions.
Measures to let everyone get into heat adaptation can help as well, Petkova said. People have been putting reflective roofs, planting more trees, installing cooling centers and warning systems have greatly helped reduce instances of heat-related casualties.
Heat Stroke Definition, Symptoms and Prevention
Heat stroke is a medical emergency caused by overexposure to extremely high temperatures. Overheating the body can result in result in severe health consequences and even death. Some symptoms include shallow and rapid breathing, headache, high body temperature, confusion, seizures, nausea, vomiting, hot red skin and a rapid pulse rate.
Heat stroke is preventable and there are measures to protect against it. During hot weathers, it is important to drink a lot of water or fluids, avoiding exposure under the sun without sunblock, never leaving anyone inside a parked car, wear summer appropriate clothing and be generally conscious of whether you're at risk for heat stroke.
