PHX Reporter

The number of people dying due to the heat in Maricopa County in the week ending Aug. 5 decreased from the week before, according to Maricopa County Morbidity Reports. 

Roughly 40 people passed away from a heat-related cause during the week. All of these deaths are under investigation by the coroner, as well as 345 other deaths that were potentially caused by the heat. 

This is a significant decrease from the previous two weeks, when roughly 150 and 90 people died, respectively. 

At the same time, the number of confirmed heat-related deaths jumped from 39 by July 29 to 59 by Aug. 5. 2023 has now surpassed 2022 as the most deadly year on record for heat-related fatalities, with several weeks of scorching temperatures still to come. 

This year, there have been 59 confirmed deaths, with 345 currently under investigation, while at the same time, in 2022, there were 44 confirmed deaths, with 287 under investigation.

Of the 59 confirmed deaths, 60% were white, 21% were Hispanic or Latino, 12% were Black or African American, and 3% were either Asian or Pacific Islander or American Indian/Alaska Native.

The weekly report showed that people between the ages of 50 and 64 were the most vulnerable to the heat, accounting for 31% of confirmed heat-associated deaths. The 65-74 age group suffered 27% of the confirmed deaths.Those 75+ in age accounted for 25% of deaths. The percentages drop steeply for the younger demographics, falling to 14% for those 35-49, and 4% for people in the large age range of five-years-old to 34-years-old. 

Additionally, 68% of heat-related deaths happened to people who had shelter, whether it be their own place to live or somewhere they shared. Of the 14 people who died indoors, 14 of them had air conditioning in the unit or house, but their air conditioning was either non-functioning, couldn’t be turned on due to a lack of electricity, or wasn’t in use. 

 A sweltering heat wave baked much of the area for 31 days, and this year has seen the most 115-degree days ever in a calendar year. Though temperatures have dipped slightly to below 110-degrees as a daytime high, the area is still under an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service. 

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a Heat State of Emergency on Friday, Aug. 11. It increases funding for services for the rest of the summer, even though the hot season in Arizona began several months before. 

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.

    The enhanced heat surveillance season usually begins in May and ends in October. Weekly Heat Surveillance reports are provided by Maricopa County during the enhanced heat surveillance season from the beginning of May to the end of October. 

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.