Clark County Coroner: Heat Claims 63 Lives Past Two Months
63 people died in Clark County due to heat-related circumstances, according to the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
The Southern Nevada Health District said the number of deaths only represented cases that the Clark County Cornoner’s Office investigated, if the person’s identity was confirmed and if the next of kin was notified, 8 News Now states.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, this report doesn’t take into account every heat-related death in June and July, and the report isn’t final. The range of the report is from May 27 until July 27 regarding heat-related deaths in Las Vegas. However, investigations often take up to 90 days, which is another reason why the report doesn’t reflect the complete number of heat-related deaths. There are still some cases being investigated on.
Heat-Related Deaths In Las Vegas Often Exacertabed By Substances
8 News Now reports that many of the deaths were also connected with drug usage, which can make the effects of heat even worse.
“The most common causes of death included ‘cardiovascular disease’ and ‘environmental heat stress,’ though another stand-out category included’ ‘methamphetamine toxicity,'” Fox 5 reports.
The ages of people who died ranged from 24 as the youngest and 94 as the oldest. The 24-year-old’s death was listed as methamphetamine toxicity, and the 94-year-old’s death was from diabetes. Every death was listed as an accident in the report, the Southern Nevada Health Department states.
Deaths From Heat On The Rise Across Southwest
The rising number of heat-related deaths has been a trend across the Southwest, especially in Arizona.
CNN reported that hundreds of people died from heat in Maricopa County, which contains Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Goodyear and other major cities in Arizona.
“Heat has killed 27 people in the county, which is home to Phoenix, and is suspected as the cause of 396 other deaths so far this year, according to figures released Tuesday,” CNN reported.
Cooling Centers In Las Vegas Offer Temporary Sanctuary
During intense heatwaves, Clark County has a plethora of cooling centers in community centers, senior centers, nonprofit spaces, and more.
Cooling center locations change, so the county recommends people try and contact a cooling center to ensure the center’s availability.
For more information about cooling centers and a map of the different centers in the city, click here.
