Maricopa County saw record high fatalities related to heat in 2021
The Grand Canyon State is known for making national headlines in the summer for its extreme heat continued to see record-high fatalities relating to heat in 2021.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health recently published a report tabulating 339 heat-associated deaths last year — a 5% increase over 2020’s 323 fatalities and a whopping 70% increase over the 199 deaths recorded in 2019.
Heat was a cause of 339 deaths in 2021
Of the 339 deaths recorded last year, 194 were "heat-caused" while 145 were deemed "heat-related," the latter of which meaning heat played a role in a person's death but wasn't deemed to be the direct cause by the medical examiner.
This number is similar to the overall trend since 2006, the report states,
Of the deaths, 83% occurred between June and August
The vast majority of heat-associated deaths occurred between June and August when temperatures are often the highest, though 12% of deaths still occurred in September when triple-digit highs remain common. July has been the deadliest month for heat since at least 2007.
In 2021, six excessive heat warnings were issued by the National Weather Service for a total of 20 days. On those days, 28% of heat-associated deaths occurred.
Far more men die from heat, at rate three times higher than women
Men made up most heat-associated deaths at 81% and had a death rate three-times higher than that of women (9.3 versus 2.5 for women).
According to the report, men, African Americans (10) and American Indians (9) had the highest heat-associated death rates (per 100,000).
Three-quarters of the deaths occurred outdoors (252 deaths), with the homeless population making up 130, or 38%, of total deaths.
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Substance abuse was a factor in 60% of deaths — meth especially
Substance use was a factor in 60% of deaths, with 77% being drugs only, 17% being alcohol only and the remainder being a combination of the two.
Methamphetamine was the main cause or contributing factor in 45% of all heat-associated deaths and was detected in 91% of cases involving substance use. Fentanyl was detected in 30% of substance abuse cases involving drugs.
"The proportion of heat-associated deaths involving drug use decreased by three percent while the proportion involving alcohol use increased four percent from last year," the report states.
Though many people who died inside had A/C, 3/4 of them were not working
Of the 82 deaths that occurred indoors, 69 (or 86%) had an air-conditioning unit though 52, three-quarters of them, were reported as being non-functional.
The unit not being in use made up 19% of cases while a lack of electricity made up only 3% of cases.
11.1 (per 100,000): Heat-associated death rate in Phoenix
More than half of heat-associated deaths (178 in total) occurred in Phoenix, which also had the highest rate of deaths with 11.1 people per 100,000.
Glendale had the next highest with 8.1 per 100,000 and 20 total deaths followed by Tempe with 6.6 per 100,000 and 12 deaths total.
122: The number of outdoor heat deaths that were in urban areas
Nearly half, 122 in number, of heat-associated deaths that occurred outdoors were at an urban area such as a bus stop or sidewalk, while 19% occurred in a desert area or hiking trail. Residences made up 13% while 8% were in a vehicle.
For indoor deaths, 39 (48%) happened in a house.
According to the weather service, heat kills more people than any other weather event.
Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maricopa County saw record high fatalities related to heat in 2021
