The Cost of Extreme Heat

Extreme heat is threatening our health, burdening our health care systems, and driving up costs. Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress New CAP Analysis Finds Extreme Summer Heat is a Billion Dollar Health Problem [a plane flies over the clouds towards a bright sun in an orange sky]( Earth experienced its hottest day on record on Monday, and then Tuesday was even hotter—[with Thursday breaking even those records](. While the heat this week shattered records, climate scientists are warning that this week’s record-setting temperatures are just a taste of what’s to come as climate change heats up the planet. Extreme summer heat increases the chances of experiencing heat-related illnesses such as cramps, exhaustion, and heat stroke. With climate change leading to more extreme and long-lasting heat, more Americans will need medical care for heat-related illnesses. The resulting increases in emergency department visits and hospital admissions will drive up U.S. health care costs. A [new analysis]( from the Center for American Progress by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University estimates that, nationwide, extreme heat could be responsible for almost 235,000 emergency department visits and more than 56,000 hospital admissions for heat-related illness each summer, adding approximately $1 billion in health care costs annually. Low-income and disadvantaged communities that have less access to cooling resources such as air conditioning and tree canopy are [more vulnerable]( to heat-related illness. Extreme heat is already affecting communities across the nation and [taking an expensive toll on health](. Dangerous heat waves spread across the nation early this summer ahead of the country’s hottest month of the year, [July](. In June, Puerto Rico hit 125 degrees Fahrenheit, a [record high](. Schools in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic were [forced to close]( to extreme heat in June. The impacts of extreme heat on health care are especially clear during acute heat waves: Emergency room visits surged and at least [14 people died]( in Texas following a [heat wave across the South.]( The June 2021 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest also [increased emergency department visits]( ninefold in Seattle and seventeenfold in Portland, Oregon. In addition to increased health emergencies and health care spending, the [broader impact of extreme heat]( on the U.S. economy includes decreased workforce productivity, increased [worksite injuries]( and illness, and [disrupted business operations]( caused by power outages and heat damage to materials and infrastructure. [Learn More]( As catastrophic heat waves become more common, all levels of government and the private sector must confront the fundamental crisis of climate change by taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pursue policies that mitigate the effects of extreme heat, and build community and health systems with the capacity to handle heat emergencies. [Take Action]( Progress in Action: A Sky-High Investment From the Biden Administration [a British Airways plane waits on the tarmac to take off. There is a stationary plane in the foreground with a loading ramp attached. ]( Flying into Phoenix is about to get a lot easier thanks to the Biden administration. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has received [more than $41 million]( to construct a new taxiway overpass. The airport, located just 5 miles from downtown Phoenix, has faced challenges in expanding its infrastructure due to limited available land. But funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will address these issues and support the airport's growth. The [new taxiway overpass project]( will reduce aircraft taxi time, optimize runway utilization, and enhance capacity for airline partners, ultimately improving the overall passenger experience. These improvements are crucial for an airport that has become one of the busiest in the nation and worldwide. Beyond the immediate benefits, the project will have a broader economic impact. It is expected to create thousands of temporary construction jobs for union workers in Arizona and provide a boost to the local economy. It also has the [potential to attract]( more international travel to the state, further benefiting the region. [Learn More]( The Arizona Sky Harbor Taxiway Project is just one example of the transformative impacts of the Biden administration's economic agenda. Use our [Biden Administration Investment Tracker]( to see the other 35,000 investments happening across the country right now. [What's Happening in Your Hometown]( Drag Is an Art Form [Drag Queen Maria Con Carne makes a shocked face in a screenshot of an instagram video ]( Get ready with Mari Con Carne, a drag queen based in Washington, D.C., who advocates for women and queer individuals through community-based action. As they go through their makeup routine, Mari Con Carne discusses the misconceptions of drag, the dangers that children face in school, and the importance of supporting the LGBTQI+ community. [Share This]( Follow us on [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on YouTube]( [Follow us on Instagram]( [Support CAP]( [Manage Email Preferences or Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( [Center for American Progress]( Center for American Progress 1333 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20005 [supporter]