With cases of heatstroke and other heat illness on the rise amid soaring temperatures, the Louisiana Department of Health has updated public data related to those illnesses and is offering guides for staying safe under the sun.
In March, the state recorded only three emergency department visits in local hospitals due to heat-related illnesses, according to data. As of June 15, there have been 48.
Meanwhile, daily high temperatures during Louisiana's summer are nearing 89 degrees in New Orleans and 91 degrees in Baton Rouge. The “feels like” temperature ranges between 95 and 105 degrees throughout the state. Heat advisories are in effect.
Heat-related illness can have long-term and short-term consequences for the body. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke, for instance, have the potential to cause heart attacks. Symptoms of heat-related illness brought on by extreme temperatures include dizziness, vomiting, fainting and high body temperatures at 103 degrees or higher.
Heatstroke, exhaustion data
The state first began tracking heat-related illness April 1. Updated weekly, LDH's public dashboard provides detailed breakdowns by day, parish, age, sex and race. State officials update the dashboard through patient records with emergency departments across Louisiana.��
Changes to this year's dashboard include:
- Adding temperatures to the display of emergency department visits by date
- Visualizations of emergency department visits by date
- Visualizations of emergency department visits by area
- Technical information, including case definitions.
There were 48 emergency department visits for heat-related illness, which includes heatstroke, exhaustion or heat cramps, on June 15, the latest date updated. The LDH recorded 950 visits for heat-related illness so far in 2024.
How to stay safe
Residents can avoid heat-related illness by:
- Avoiding outside activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Staying hydrated with water throughout the day
- Keep homes cool or air-conditioned
- If outside, wear appropriate attire (sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, sunglass and loose-fitted, light-colored clothing).
Older adults, pregnant women, infants and people who exercise outside are among the most susceptible to heat-related illness, state officials said.
If working outside, acclimating to the heat takes about four to 14 days, according to the LDH, when gradually increasing the time spent working outside each day. The same study found more than half of heat-related deaths occur on an employee’s first day. Employers are advised to increase the time workers spend outside by 20% each day.
Data pertaining to emergency department visits for heat-related illness will be updated every Tuesday through October.
There were 88 heat-related deaths the LDH recorded in Louisiana in 2023, officials said. Baton Rouge and New Orleans also experienced their hottest year on record.
The National Weather Service is issuing heat advisories for Louisiana and Mississippi from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The organization advises people to take added precautions when outside during this time. Serious illness and death are possible when unprepared for extreme heat. A Monday heat advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m.