At Least 16 People Have Died This Summer in Louisiana From Heat-Related Causes

This heat is no joke. We see the warnings from authorities, yet sadly, we also hear about serious health issues and unfortunately, deaths.

The Louisiana Department of Health has reported that 16 Louisianians have died from heat-related causes this June and July.

The stats are eye-opening.

LDH said that as of Saturday, July 29th, there were 3,305 visits to the emergency room in the state due to heat-related issues. This is quite an increase from the average of 2,700 heat-related emergency room visits in a typical year.

(See more about heat-related illness in the state between 2010 and 2020 in this report here.)

LDH said: “We are reviewing death certificates to assess factors contributing to recent heat fatalities, but we know that increased temperatures and heat index due to high humidity have created life-threatening conditions for many Louisianans."

LDH also provided a breakdown of emergency room visits due to heat-related issues from Saturday, April 1 through Saturday, August 5 and you can see those stats here.

The report gives a general definition of what heat-related illness entails:

Heat-related illness or hyperthermia, occurs when the body cannot cool itself sufficiently through sweating. These illnesses can range in severity from mild, such as heat rash and heat cramps, to severe, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

As we know, this extreme heat can be deadly, but there are ways to protect yourself. Here are some suggestions from LDH:

• Stay hydrated
• Dress for the heat
• Stay cool indoors
• Limit outdoor activities
• Check on loved ones
• Never leave children or pets in hot vehicles