Emergency Room Visits Spike in U.S. as Heat Wave Takes Toll, CDC Reports
Heat-related ER visits surged in hardest-hit US regions this week, reaching "extremely high" rates, based on CDC data analysis.
As the heatwave tightens its grip on the United States, emergency room visits due to heat-related illnesses have surged in the hardest-hit regions. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), areas in New England, the Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic States have reported "extremely high" rates of heat-related illnesses this week.
Unprecedented Spike in Emergency Room Visits
The C.D.C.'s heat and health tracker revealed a dramatic increase in heat-related emergency room visits, with some areas experiencing rates that exceeded the 95th percentile of typical visits. The data, which was available through Thursday, used a scale of per 100,000 visits to gauge the severity of the situation.
New England Hit Hardest
New England emerged as the most severely impacted region, with the number of emergency room visits skyrocketing from 57 per 100,000 on Monday to a staggering 833 on Thursday—the highest rate in the country for the entire week. The sudden spike is attributed to the region's limited acclimatization to high temperatures at this time of year. Record-breaking temperatures of 98 and 97 were reported in Boston and Hartford, Conn., respectively, while Caribou, Maine, reached 96 degrees, equalling its highest-ever recorded temperature.
Health Authorities on High Alert
As the heatwave persists, health authorities are on high alert, urging residents to take precautionary measures to prevent heat-related illnesses. With the situation showing no signs of immediate relief, continued vigilance and proactive measures are crucial to safeguard public health during this unprecedented heatwave.
Share news