Record Summer Heat Claims Lives in Pinal County

The Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed a sobering statistic: the 2023 summer season has recorded the highest number of heat-related deaths in the county since the office gained jurisdiction five years ago.

From May 18 to September 8, there were 33 fatalities attributed to heat exposure, surpassing last year’s total by six. The previous record was set in 2022 with 32 such deaths.

Among this year’s casualties was a 58-year-old homeless man who succumbed to heart disease aggravated by extreme temperatures. His death occurred in Maricopa on July 5.

July proved especially deadly, accounting for half of the heat-related fatalities. June closely followed with ten deaths, marking June 10 as the worst day, when three individuals died in a non-air-conditioned home.

A concerning trend emerged with six out of ten fatalities occurring indoors, where the absence of functional air conditioning was prevalent. Recent data highlighted that 60% of heat victims lived in homes lacking adequate cooling systems. Additionally, two deaths took place in homes that had air conditioning but were inadequate to maintain temperatures below 94 degrees.

This revelation follows the case of a Maricopa veteran who endured two summer seasons with a malfunctioning air conditioning unit, which was eventually replaced free of charge by 911 Air Repair. He lamented the unbearable heat, even at night, inscribing the impact of such conditions on vulnerable populations.

The rise in emergency room visits related to heat illnesses also underscores the severity of the situation, with a total of 344 visits this summer, up 6% from last year. The week of July 7 saw the highest number of patients treated for conditions such as dehydration and heat stroke.

Notably, a quarter of the victims were homeless, with a demographic breakdown showing two-thirds of those who died were men and half were seniors over the age of 65.