PHX Reporter

     There were 13 heat-associated deaths in the week ending July 8, according to Maricopa County Morbidity Reports. One death was confirmed to be caused by the blistering heat, and the others are under investigation by the medical examiner. 

      So far this heat season, 12 people have passed away either due to the heat or heat-related causes. There are currently 55 other deaths under investigation. 

      Of the 12 confirmed deaths, 50% were White, 25% were Hispanic or Latino, 17% Asian or Pacific Islander, and 8% of deaths occurred in people identified as American Indian/Alaska Native.

     The weekly report showed that 33% of the fatalities happened to people 75-year-old or older. People between the ages of 50 and 74 accounted for 34% of deaths, with 25% of deaths occurring among individuals aged 35 and 49 and 8% among those aged 5-19 years.

     Additionally, 50% of heat-related deaths happened to those considered homeless. 

     So far, in 2023, there have been less heat-associated deaths compared to the year before. This year, there have been 12 confirmed deaths with 55 currently under investigation, while at the same time in 2022 there were 17 confirmed deaths with 126 under investigation.

     Last year, the first heat-associated death also happened in March, one month earlier than in 2023. 

     Maricopa County reported a total of 425 heat-associated deaths in 2022, a 25% increase from 2021. More than half of those 2022 deaths occurred in the month of July.

     Phoenix, which is the seat of Maricopa County, is considered the hottest city in the U.S. Records at Current Results, Phoenix is the only large U.S. city to suffer more than 100 days of 100-degree heat.

     Maricopa is currently under an excessive heat warning as a heat wave bakes the area and much of the southern U.S. 

     The enhanced heat surveillance season usually begins in May and ends in October. Weekly Heat Surveillance reports are provided by Maricopa County during this season.

     Cooling and hydration stations in Maricopa County are open to the public throughout the heat season. For more information on heat, please visit http://heataz.org.