Heat-Related ER Visits Spike In FL As Sweltering Temps Persist

FLORIDA — Heat-related visits to emergency rooms in the South were up during the current heat wave that brought sweltering temperatures to Florida last week, according to federal health data.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention heat health tracker data, which was updated Saturday, shows “extremely high” rates of heat-related illnesses across large swaths of the South. The data, based on a scale of per 100,000 visits, showed emergency room visits that exceeded the 95th percentile of what is typical.

In the South, emergency room visits went from 250 per 100,000 residents on June 17 to 375 on Saturday.

The story was much the same across much of New England, the Midwest, the Rockies and the Mid-Atlantic states as the unusually early heat wave broke records. Relief is expected in the coming days in most of those areas later in the week, but Monday’s heat risk remains high, according to the CDC data.

In central Florida, near Hillsborough County, the heat risk will linger around moderate this week. Sarasota and Miami-Dade counties are also expected to experience moderate heat.

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The National Weather Service said most of the areas hardest hit by the heat wave will begin to see relief Monday, but stifling conditions will continue in the Southeast and Southern Plains.

A heat advisory is in effect from 1-7 p.m. Monday for Jacksonville, St. Augustine and surrounding areas as heat index values of up to 109 degrees are expected in northeast and northern Florida.

"Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses," weather officials said in the advisory.

Miami could feel heat indices between 100 and 105 degrees Monday, with values possibly rising to 110 degrees later in the week.

A moderate heat risk exists Monday for east central Florida. Temperatures are expected to sit in the low to mid-90s. Heat index values could climb to 105 degrees.

The moderate heat risk could transition to major in coming days in east central Florida.

In the United States, extreme heat kills more people than hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. More than 2,300 Americans died of heat-related illnesses last year, the most in 45 years of record-keeping, according to the CDC. That’s up from about 1,700 heat-related deaths in 2022 and 1,600 in 2021.

People become ill from the heat when their bodies can’t naturally cool off due to a combination of factors, including high humidity. When the humidity is high, sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly and keeps the body from releasing heat as fast as it may need.

Personal factors such as age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use all can affect the ability of the body to naturally cool off.

To avoid heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion, health officials advise people to limit time outdoors if possible during the heat of the day, and be sure to drink plenty of water and wear loose-fitting clothes and a hat.