People at a cooling center in Portland, Oregon.Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images
More than 60 people have died in Oregon astemperatures continue to soar across the Pacific Northwest, according to officials.
The 63 deaths are believed to be related to thePacific Northwest heatwave, though the final causes of death have not yet been determined, the press release stated.
In Multnomah County, which includes Portland, Medical Examiner’s officials said 45 people have died, according to the press release.
There were also nine deaths in Marion County, five deaths in Washington County, two in Clackamas County, and one each in Columbia and Umatilla counties, the press release stated.
The heatwave in Portland, Oregon.Alisha Jucevic for The Washington Post via Getty Images
On Wednesday, Multnomah County officials addressed the deathsin a press release, explaining that the preliminary cause of death for the 45 victims was hyperthermia.
In comparison, officials said the number was nearly four times that of those recorded in Oregon between 2017-2019. (Only 12 deaths due to hyperthermia were recorded in that time.)
According to the press release, those who died ranged in age from 44 to 97 and included 17 women and 27 men — many of whom had underlying health conditions. Officials also said many of the victims were found “alone, without air conditioning or a fan.”
Temperatures in Seattle.Ted S Warren/AP/Shutterstock
Temperatures at Asher College in Las Vegas.Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Along with the deaths, Multnomah County noted that they recorded the highest-ever number of 911 calls for medical emergencies with 491 calls, a 63 percent increase over normal.
There were also 131 emergency department and urgent care clinic visits for heat illness in the county between June 25, when the National Weather Service excessive heat warning went into effect, and June 28. To emphasize the data, officials said “normally we would see one.”
Ted S Warren/AP/Shutterstock
Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest have continued to soar this week, with Seattle hitting a city high at108 degreeson Monday, according to theNational Weather Service.
Meanwhile, the British Columbia city of Lytton hit 117.5 degrees, also setting the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada,CNNreported.
In an op-ed forThe Seattle Timeson Tuesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee wrote, “We cannot just turn up the AC. We have to turn up our level of efforts fighting the underlying cause of our changing world — climate change.”
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TheCenters for Disease Control and Preventionhas said that on average extreme heat kills more than 700 people each year in the United States.
Older people — along with young children and infants, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions — are more vulnerable to high temperatures because their bodies are unable to regulate temperature in the same way that younger, healthy adult bodies are, according toNPR.
If you seesomeone suffering heat exhaustion, get them to a cooler, air-conditioned place, have them drink water if they’re fully conscious and have them take a cool shower or use a cold compress. Symptoms include feeling faint or dizzy, excessive sweating, cool, pale or clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, a rapid and weak pulse and muscle cramps.
Signs of heat stroke, meanwhile, are similar but slightly different — and require immediate medical attention. Experts advise calling 911 if you or someone you know exhibits symptoms such as a throbbing headache, no sweating, a body temperature of about 103 degrees, red, hot, dry skin, nausea or vomiting, rapid, strong pulse and a possible loss of consciousness.
source: people.com
