Did extreme heat cause or contribute to his death?
But scenarios like this can play out in any heat wave across the country, and in many cases, the answer cannot be determined immediately — if at all.
That dearth of information is the reason that heat-related deaths in the United States remain a frustrating mystery.
Researchers estimate that heat kills more people than any other extreme weather event, and the number of heat-related deaths reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has steadily risen in recent years.
In 2023, the agency reported that heat played a role in approximately 2,300 deaths, though this number may be revised as more records are processed.
Organizations:
U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention
Locations:
Maricopa County, Ariz, United States