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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Extreme heat is making work more dangerous, and safeguards can't keep up, a labor report found.</li><li>The International Labour Organization found the Americas had a surge in heat-related work injuries.</li></ul>Extreme heat isn't just making it harder to enjoy summer vacation. It's also making work more dangerous than ever, a labor report found.The International Labour Organization reported that workers are increasingly exposed to extreme heat worldwide to the degree that occupational safety and health protections can't keep up. In addition to jeopardizing workers, the heat "undermines the resilience of economies," the agency said."While climate-related mitigation efforts will necessitate concerted action over time, workers are being injured and dying now, and therefore heat stress preventative measures should be implemented as a matter of urgency," the report found.Over 26 million people globally suffer from chronic kidney disease tied to occupational heat stress, and the vast majority of excessive heat exposure and heat-related injuries occur outside of a heatwave, the report said.The Americas have seen the highest and most rapid surge in occupational injuries from extreme heat, rising by over 33% since 2000, the report said. Meanwhile, workers in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Arab states are most often exposed to excessive heat.The ILO urged countries to make sure laws about workers in excessive heat reflected the "intensifying climate change-related dangers many workers face daily."President Joe Biden's administration recently proposed the first national standards to protect <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bidens-heat-standards-workers-water-shade-rest-2024-7">American workers during excessive heat</a>. If approved, the standards could impact some 35 million workers in the construction, agriculture, delivery, and landscaping industries, as well as workers in factories and other businesses without air conditioning.It comes amid news that global warming and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-change-global-warming-extreme-heat-inflation-global-economy-impact-2024-3">extreme heat could raise inflation</a>, including food inflation. One study found that extreme heat cost the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-heat-cost-the-global-economy-an-estimated-16-trillion-2023-8">global economy an average of $16 trillion</a> from 1993 to 2023.

Heat-related injuries to workers in the Americas have soared since 2000, study finds

A deadly heat wave gripped large regions of Asia for weeks in April and May 2024. As temperatures climbed past 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) in India on May 7, campaigning politicians, local news announcers and voters waiting in long lines passed out from the oppressive heat. From as far north as Japan to as far south as the Philippines, the relentless heat wreaked havoc on everyday life. Students and teachers in Cambodia were sent home from school, as their hand-held fans provided little protection against the stifling heat and humidity in their poorly ventilated classrooms. Farmers in Thailand saw their crops wither and mourned the loss of livestock that perished under the punishing sun. Hundreds of people died from the heat. Most of the planet has suffered the dire effects of <keyword id="20563038" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="extreme-heat" source="keywords">extreme heat</keyword> in recent years. A weekslong heat wave in the southwestern United States in 2023 was described as "hell on earth" in Phoenix, where temperatures hit 110 F (43.3 C) or higher for 31 straight days. At the same time, Europe saw unprecedented high temperatures that killed hundreds and contributed to devastating wildfires in Greece. Regardless of where or when a heat wave strikes, one pattern is a constant: Older adults are the most likely to die from extreme heat, and this crisis will worsen in the coming years. We study <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> and population aging. Our research documents two global trends that together portend a dire future. More older adults will be at risk of heat stress First, temperatures are hotter than ever. The nine-year period from 2015 and 2023 had the highest average temperatures since global records began in 1880. Second, the population is aging worldwide. By 2050, the number of people ages 60 and older will double to nearly 2.1 billion, making up 21 per cent of the <keyword id="21055680" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-population" source="keywords">global population</keyword>. That proportion is 13 per cent today. These combined forces mean that ever-rising numbers of vulnerable older adults will be exposed to intensifying heat. To understand the risks ahead, we developed population projections for different age groups and combined them with climate change scenarios for the coming decades. Our analyses show that by 2050, more than 23 per cent of the world population ages 69 and older will be living in regions where peak temperatures routinely surpass 99.5 degrees F (37.5 degrees C), compared with just 14 per cent today. That means that as many as 250 million additional older adults will be exposed to dangerously high temperatures. Mapping the data shows that most of these older adults live in lower- and middle-income countries with insufficient services and limited access to electricity, cooling appliances and safe water. In historically cooler regions in the Global North, including North America and Europe, <keyword id="20707229" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rising-temperatures" source="keywords">rising temperatures</keyword> will be the main force driving older adults' heat exposure. In historically hotter regions in the Global South such as Asia, Africa and South America, population growth and increases in longevity mean that steeply rising numbers of older adults will be exposed to intensifying heat-related risks. Policymakers, communities, families and older residents themselves need to understand these risks and be prepared because of older adults' special vulnerabilities to heat. Extreme heat is especially harmful to older adults High temperatures are oppressive for everyone, but for older adults they can be deadly. Extreme heat worsens common age-related health conditions such as heart, lung and kidney disease and can cause delirium. Older people don't sweat as much as younger people, which makes it harder for their bodies to cool down when temperatures spike. These problems are intensified by common prescription medications, such as anticholinergics, which further reduce the capacity to sweat. Spending time outdoors in hot humid weather can cause dehydration, a problem worsened by the side effects of prescription medications such as diuretics and beta-blockers. Dehydration can make older adults weak and dizzy, increasing their risk of falls and injury. These threats are even worse in regions lacking access to safe and affordable drinking water. Poor air quality makes it difficult to breath, especially for those who already have lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. For older adults with physical health problems, temperatures as low as 80 F (26.7 C) can pose significant danger. And when humidity is as high as 90 per cent, even 78 F (25.6 C) can be hazardous to older adults. Nighttime heat is especially harmful for older adults whose homes lack air conditioning or who can't afford to run their air conditioners for long periods. The ideal temperature for older adults' restful sleep is between 68 and 77 F (20 and 25 C), and sleep quality diminishes as temperatures rise. A night of restless sleep can make an older adult more depressed and confused during their waking hours. Medications also can lose their effectiveness if stored in places much warmer than 77 F (25 C). Older adults also may suffer emotionally during stifling <keyword id="20472420" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heat-waves" source="keywords">heat waves</keyword> Being stuck indoors when temperatures are unbearable can make older adults bored, depressed and isolated. People with cognitive impairments may underestimate the dangers of extreme heat or may not understand the heat advisories. Those who have physical mobility limitations or lack access to transportation can't easily travel to public cooling centers - if there is one nearby - or find relief in nearby "green and blue areas," such as parks and lakes. These threats are especially dire in low- and middle-income nations, where older adults are more likely to live in substandard housing and lack access to high-quality health care or ways to cool down in the heat. We talk about this as "systemic cooling poverty." What can be done? Policymakers can work to cut greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants and factories, which drive global warming, and develop effective plans to protect older people from heat risk. Older adults and their caregivers also can take steps to adapt. But efforts to help need to be tailored to each region and population. Wealthy municipalities can increase public investments in early warning systems and ride services to cooling centers and hospitals. They can use geographic information systems to identify neighborhoods with high concentrations of older adults and expand power grids to manage increasing demand for air conditioning. In regions with substandard housing, limited access to clean water and few public supports such as cooling centers, much larger changes are necessary. Providing better health care, water and housing and reducing air pollution that can mitigate health problems during heat waves require significant changes and investments many countries struggle to afford. The World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization warn that this decade will be critical for preparing communities to handle rising heat and the risk to aging populations. Across all regions, researchers, practitioners and policymakers could save lives by heeding their call. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/awfis-space-solutions-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/110467409.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/awfis-space-solutions-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/110467409.cms" target="_blank">Awfis Space Solutions IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-f55-with-leather-back-launched-in-india-starting-at-26999/articleshow/110462026.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-f55-with-leather-back-launched-in-india-starting-at-26999/articleshow/110462026.cms" target="_blank">Samsung Galaxy F55 with leather back launched in India starting at ₹26,999</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/lenovo-loq-15-review/articleshow/110456546.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/lenovo-loq-15-review/articleshow/110456546.cms" target="_blank">Lenovo LOQ 15 review – gaming laptop with a sturdy design</a>

Heat waves can be deadly for older adults: An aging global population and rising temperatures mean millions are at risk

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Airport workers in Phoenix, Charlotte describe dangerous conditions during extreme heat.</li><li>They joined fast-food and farm workers this week in demanding employers provide water, AC, and rest.</li></ul>Cecilia Ortiz walks 10 to 15 miles a day for her job at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, pushing people in wheelchairs to their gates and carrying luggage.She loves her job, but it comes with risks, especially when temperatures reach triple digits for months in Phoenix. Ortiz said she sweats through her thick polyester uniform on jet bridges that aren't always air-conditioned. Access to cold water and rest breaks aren't guaranteed. Some of her colleagues who clean airplane cabins, transport luggage on the tarmac, or work as curbside agents have reported dizziness, nausea, and vomiting on the job — symptoms of heat exhaustion.Ortiz this week is joining workers in the airline, fast-food, and farming sectors in 13 cities to demand that employers provide education and training about the symptoms of heat exhaustion, develop a plan of action for getting employees medical attention, and ensure that employees have access to water, shade, air conditioning, and rest breaks. On Tuesday there were demonstrations at airports in Phoenix and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.qcnews.com/charlotte/service-workers-at-charlotte-airport-protest-for-heat-protection/">Charlotte, North Carolina</a>, and on Thursday workers plan to take a coordinated drink of water and share it across social media. Several labor unions are organizing the actions.Scorching heat is becoming more common in the US and around the world. Scientists have found that the climate crisis is causing more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting heat waves. Federal data indicates that each year <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/36-work-related-deaths-due-to-environmental-heat-exposure-in-2021.htm">dozens of workers in the US die from heat exposure</a>. This summer, a sanitation worker for the city of Baltimore died from hyperthermia, or overheating, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/15/usps-worker-heat-stroke-death-wendy-johnson/74414304007/">whether a postal worker's death in North Carolina was related to the heat</a>.There are no national standards to protect indoor and outdoor workers. The Biden administration in July <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bidens-heat-standards-workers-water-shade-rest-2024-7">proposed rules for employers with workers exposed to temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit</a> or higher, but it could be years before they take effect. The rules could also be scrapped if former President Donald Trump wins the election in November.Some states and cities have enacted their own policies, including California and Phoenix. This fall Maryland is expected to become the sixth state to adopt heat protections for workers. Meanwhile, Florida and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-extreme-heat-construction-crews-lose-breaks-water-2023-6">Texas have blocked such protections</a> at the local level.The Phoenix City Council in April unanimously passed an ordinance requiring all city contractors and subcontractors to develop heat-safety plans for outdoor workers, including at construction sites and airports. The ordinance also requires access to rest, shade, water, and air conditioning. By 2025, closed-cab vehicles, like those that move airport baggage, must have AC.Ortiz described the ordinance as a big win but said she still hadn't seen her employer, Prospect Airport Services, make changes. The company has more than 8,500 employees at 26 airports around the US and has contracts with airlines to provide passenger services, baggage handlers, and gate agents."The ordinance took effect in April, and we're in August now, still fighting for our basic human rights to a break and water," Ortiz said.She and other airport contract workers tried to deliver a copy of the Phoenix ordinance to their supervisor on Tuesday, but he wouldn't leave his office, Ortiz said. Last August, Ortiz and 10 other employees filed a complaint with Arizona's occupational-safety authorities, who opened an investigation and conducted an on-site inspection, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/09/06/phoenix-excessive-heat-airport-workers/">The Washington Post reported</a>. A spokesman for the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health told Business Insider they could not immediately provide information about that investigation.Unifi Aviation, the parent company of Prospect Airport Services, told BI in a statement that it had a heat-illness-prevention program that takes effect when temperatures exceed 80 degrees, adding that managers are encouraged to continuously check for signs of heat stress or illness among employees."All outdoor workers are provided with extra breaks, quick access to unlimited water, Gatorade, cooling towels and popsicles," the company said. "When possible, misting stations are also set up at the airports in partnership with airport or airline officials. Employees are also told not to sit or loiter in jet bridges for their own safety and that of those around them."In California, farm workers are especially vulnerable to extreme heat. Lourdes Cardenas is a farm worker who lives in Fresno, California, where it has reached upward of 105 degrees Fahrenheit this summer. She said even though the state has a heat protection law, companies don't always follow it. Last summer, while working in tomato fields without shade, she had a headache and vomited. She had to drive herself home to rest."Many workers don't say anything when they feel bad because they are afraid they will be fired, or because they earn so little that they feel they have to take risks to get a paycheck," Cardenas said during a press conference on Monday hosted by labor unions, including United Farm Workers.Fast-food workers at Waffle House and Starbucks told BI that AC units at some locations were broken for weeks last summer, causing the restaurants to be hotter than 80 degrees."We know that the planet is getting hotter and hotter every year, and we're seeing skyrocketing conditions for workers that people may not always think of when they think about the heat," said April Verrett, the president of the Service Employees International Union, which is helping organize this week's rallies. "Folks on jet bridges or in the kitchen, where temperatures can exceed 110 degrees — they're making these demands that it's time for employers to act now."

Airport, farm, and fast-food workers rally for better heat protections

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amy Steel's netball career ended in 2016 after a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wet-bulb-temperatures-spot-stages-of-heat-stroke-and-intervene-2022-7">heat-related illness</a> during a game.</li><li>Eight years later, Steel continues to feel the long-term health issues.</li></ul>The stadium felt stifling even before the game started. Players were grabbing pieces of ice to cool themselves down. After 30 minutes of play, Amy Steel thought she'd be subbed out. Instead, she hit the court again after half-time.While walking through the stadium's parking lot after the game, she collapsed. Eight years later, she hasn't fully recovered from her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/body-bags-ice-treat-summer-heat-stroke-patients-2024-6">heat-related illness</a>.Steel spent over a decade as a professional netball player — a version of basketball popular in Australia, England, and other countries — but her career ended that day in 2016.Instead of hours of intense workouts, she can only walk or do light yoga. When her heart rate and body <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heat-related-injuries-workers-rise-2024-7">temperature start to rise</a>, "my body sort of rebels against that, and it's all starts to shut down," Steel told Business Insider.When the body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/heat-stroke">heat stroke can become deadly</a>. For those who recover from the immediate danger, the <a target="_blank" href="https://news.ufl.edu/2022/07/heatstrokes-long-term-damage-to-the-body/">effects</a> on their hearts, kidneys, and immune systems can be long-lasting.<h2 id="c92a7b4a-0f4d-4eb3-a09a-b771b18bf933">Steel showed some serious signs of heat stroke</h2><div type="image" title="Amy Steel holds a netball on the court about to pass" height="1500" width="2250" msid="112819004" hostid="261" sizebytes="216972"></div>Steel's professional netball career started at age 15. She traveled around Australia and to other countries, <a target="_blank" href="https://diamonds.netball.com.au/player/amy-steel">competing</a> in championship games. "I had some really special career moments," she said.She would train for five hours a day, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wnba-players-money-salaries-side-jobs-wage-gap-2023-12">balancing early morning</a> and evening practices with a <a target="_blank" href="https://greensportsblog.com/the-gsb-interview-amy-steel-netballer-climate-analyst-and-climate-activist/">job</a> in accounting.The day Steel collapsed in 2016, the weather was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/brutal-heat-in-australia-by-2040-will-change-the-shape-of-summer-sport-20210224-p575fu.html">over</a> 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Steel's team was playing a preseason game in Shepparton, about 100 miles north of Melbourne. Officials took <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-change-rising-temperatures-test-human-limits-2023-7">humidity and temperature readings</a> in the stadium and deemed it safe to play. However, Steel said the readings were done before the room was packed with spectators and sweaty athletes.Unlike basketball, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/australian-boys-netball-team-abused-crowd-and-called-a-farce-2021-9">netball has no dribbling</a> and instead of a hoop with a backboard, there's a ring. But both are cardio-intense sports.After the game, before her collapse, Steel noticed the ice bath she sat in felt hot. She tried to take a shower but couldn't figure out how to work the taps — mental confusion is a red flag for heat stroke."One of the main things that's critical with heat stroke is you start to see cognitive impairment," said Lacy Alexander, a kinesiology professor at Penn State University who wasn't involved in treating Steel. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/weather-in-summer-heat-impact-on-health-2018-7">brain is sensitive</a> to high temperatures. When it gets too hot, "you start to get that cooking of brain and neural tissue," she said.<h2 id="9ea47a1e-4dd8-4784-b759-b9d084990d12">The long-term effects of heat stroke can be debilitating</h2><div type="image" title="Amy Steel feeds a baby kangroo from a bottle in a bag around her neck" height="876" width="1000" msid="112819006" hostid="261" sizebytes="113232"></div>Alexander said restricted blood flow to the gut during heat stroke can release bacteria into the bloodstream. This can cause a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cytokine-storm-severe-coronavirus-case-death-2020-5">cytokine storm</a>, similar to the way some people's immune systems overreact to COVID-19."You see this really huge response of the immune system to severe heat-related events," she said. This kind of overreaction can trigger a series of other illnesses long after a heat stroke.Following her collapse and hospitalization, Steel, for example, developed tonsilitis though she'd had her tonsils removed. A bout of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mono-shot-possible-cure-ms-2023-3">glandular fever</a> she'd had in childhood <a target="_blank" href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/netball/thunderbirds-defender-amy-steel-sidelined-for-at-least-a-month-of-anz-championship/news-story/64ee5457170c030f5b132c0abc98e79c">reappeared</a>. And her kidneys showed markers of inflammation for two years after she was first hospitalized.Steel still struggles with fatigue. "I will quite regularly have to have, at a bare minimum, two sleeps to get through to the end of the day," she said.Once while out driving on a hot day, Steel found herself drifting into oncoming traffic. When the temperature is in the mid-80s, she starts to feel cognitive effects from the heat.Researchers aren't completely sure what causes this sensitivity, but Alexander said heat shock proteins, which help <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9345296/">protect</a> cells from stress, can become dysregulated. "This is potentially one reason that may put certain individuals at an increased propensity for not doing well in the heat in the future," she said.With climate change <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-hottest-year-ever-history-climate-crisis-2024-1">increasing temperatures worldwide</a>, Steel wants other athletes to be aware of some of the long-term effects of heat-related illnesses."It's certainly been quite debilitating and really life-changing in terms of being an elite athlete and really at my peak fitness to then having to basically rest for a bulk of the day," Steel said.

A heat stroke ended this pro-athlete's career and 8 years later she's still feeling its effects

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The average federal fine for a US employer, when a worker dies from heat-related illness, is $8,539.98.</li><li>Some state-level fines are closer to $20,000, but these are still low penalties for loss of life, one expert says.</li></ul>As record-setting heat <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-maps-extreme-heat-could-last-weeks-2022-6?_gl=1*1gi7an7*_ga*MzE2MDMwODg2LjE2ODY1OTA0NDM.*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY4OTM2MjM3Ny42OS4xLjE2ODkzNjI0MDUuMzIuMC4w">consumes parts of the United States</a> this summer, people who work outdoors are facing serious threats to their lives. Heat-related illness and death were already becoming more common among workers in the United States. The three-year average of heat-related worker deaths has doubled since 1990, a 2021 <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/08/17/1026154042/hundreds-of-workers-have-died-from-heat-in-the-last-decade-and-its-getting-worse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from NPR and Columbia Journalism Investigations revealed. And with the death of <a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-usps-carrier-eugene-gates-funeral/287-e2587faf-2260-4509-bbf6-279bc243b46f">US Postal Service carrier Eugene Gates Jr.</a> last month in Dallas on a day when the heat index reached 115 degrees Fahrenheit, many workers and their families are on edge. A 46-year-old construction worker named Felipe Pascual also <a href="https://abc13.com/fort-bend-county-construction-worker-death-felipe-pascual-dies-at-job-site-texas-heat-wave/13449783/">died in June in Houston</a> from heat stroke. Businesses must stop placing profit and efficiency over worker safety, said Richard Gleason, an associate teaching professor on workplace safety and occupational health at the University of Washington, especially in excessive heat. "There has got to be some extra emphasis on responsibility and liability," he said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, meanwhile, is not adding much punitive incentive for companies to do more to protect workers in the heat. According to federal data <a href="https://www.osha.gov/fatalities#&amp;sort[#incSum]=0-1-1-0">reported</a> between 2017 and 2022, the Department of Labor fines businesses governed by federal OSHA regulations an average of just $8,539.98 if an employee dies because of heat-related illness. Several individual penalties were as low as $2,000, according to Gleason."$2,000 — come on, that's crazy," Gleason told Insider. "And that's typical for federal OSHA."There are <a href="https://www.osha.gov/stateplans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">22 states</a> that have state-run OSHA plans that govern both public and private employees. State OSHA plans tend to be more proactive when creating workplace safety rules and have more inspectors who can monitor conditions, Gleason said. "They have to be at least as strict as [federal] OSHA, but they can be better and safer," Gleason said.Some incidents in states governed by federal regulations — such as an unnamed employee who <a href="https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1344643.015">died</a> of heat exhaustion while working with a coke oven in West Virginia — resulted in no fines at all. The lowest non-zero fine came out of Wisconsin in 2022: The federal office <a href="https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1606631.015" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required</a> a business to pay just $1,000 for the heat-related death of 37-year-old Thomas Linkous, a construction worker who died of heat stroke. The case is still open as of July 15, so the company — Farrell Quality Carpentry Inc. — can still appeal that penalty, meaning it may end up even lower."The codes and penalties are very small," Gleason said.The average fine for states with the strictest state-level OSHA penalties — like California, Washington, and Oregon — tends to be closer to $20,000, according to Gleason. But, Gleason said, "Even $20,000 is pretty low when you think about it."Gleason also noted that federal OSHA fines for worker deaths are significantly smaller than that of other federal agencies."The average Environmental Protection Agency penalty is 10 times that of federal OSHA for a worker that dies," Gleason said. "It's pretty weird, if you ask me."One major barrier to progress includes the slow pace at which the federal OSHA office can change its policies, Gleason said. He estimated it would take 10 years to update its heat-related safety guidelines, while states can do so far more quickly — within a single legislative session, even. "The states can be a little more efficient, they can change their own rules," Gleason said.The Department of Labor did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication.

The Labor Department only fines businesses on average $8,500 when a worker dies from a heat-related illness

Having been declared a global health emergency by <keyword id="6366244" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="who" source="Orion">WHO</keyword> just a few weeks ago, the dreaded <keyword id="20965747" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mpox" source="keywords">Mpox</keyword> (formerly <keyword id="7616951" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="monkeypox" source="Orion">monkeypox</keyword>) has slowly been closing in on India. And now, days after our neighbour <keyword id="19899252" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pakistan" source="keywords">Pakistan</keyword> confirmed its second Mpox case this month, India has also reported its first one this season. While feeling uncertain is understandable, the situation is far from dire just yet. On Monday, September 9, 2024, the <keyword id="19896140" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-ministry" source="keywords">Health Ministry</keyword> confirmed that a previously suspected case of Mpox was a travel-related infection. The patient, a young male, recently returned from a country experiencing ongoing Mpox transmission. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the West African clade 2 of the Mpox virus, which is distinct from the more dangerous clade 1 currently under a public health emergency. In its statement, the Ministry emphasised that this case is isolated and in line with the 30 previous Mpox cases reported in India since July 2022. The Ministry clarified that this case does not contribute to the WHO-declared public health emergency associated with clade 1 of Mpox, which has spread primarily in parts of <keyword id="19924003" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="africa" source="keywords">Africa</keyword>. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112542249" title="WHO has declared mpox a global health emergency. What happens next?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Patient condition and response measures </h2>The infected individual is isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility. The Ministry reports that the patient is clinically stable, with no systemic illness or pre-existing conditions. Public health authorities have initiated contact tracing and monitoring to ensure the infection remains contained, stating that no widespread public health risk exists at this time. <h2>Mode of transmission and symptoms </h2>The global Mpox outbreak has primarily affected young males, with a median age of 34. The main mode of transmission has been sexual contact, followed by non-sexual person-to-person contact. The most commonly reported symptom is a rash, which can manifest either systemically or in the genital region, followed by fever. WHO data shared by the Ministry indicates that approximately 51.9% of Mpox cases involve individuals living with HIV. This underscores the need for targeted healthcare and awareness, especially in high-risk populations. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112561654" title="WHO calls for increased surveillance, sharing of data, vaccines to combat monkeypox outbreak" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Increased vigilance and preparedness </h2>Following the confirmation of this case, the Health Ministry has issued directives to all states and union territories, urging healthcare workers, particularly those in skin/STD clinics and NACO (<keyword id="20887701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-aids-control-organisation" source="keywords">National AIDS Control Organisation</keyword>) clinics, to stay alert to the signs and symptoms of Mpox. These clinics must be prepared for immediate isolation, clinical management, and treatment of complications, adhering to established protocols. The Ministry has also advised enhanced screening and testing of suspected Mpox cases, especially at airports and other points of entry, to prevent further transmission. <h2>Awareness and risk communication </h2>The Ministry has issued guidelines to state AIDS control societies, urging them to be vigilant in identifying suspect cases, especially among vulnerable populations such as female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM). Communities must be made aware of the disease’s transmission and symptoms, as well as the importance of timely reporting. Clear risk communication, particularly to healthcare workers and intervention sites such as skin and paediatric clinics, is crucial to prevent the spread of the virus. While the Ministry advocates for robust preventive measures, it also stresses the importance of avoiding undue panic among the general public. For now, the Ministry’s actions aim to ensure that India remains well-prepared to handle isolated Mpox cases, while working to prevent any major outbreak in the country. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112550492" title="Danish monkeypox-vaccine maker surges 17% after global health emergency declared" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Mpox has finally infiltrated India, but how worried should we be about the viral disease?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Heat exhaustion comes before heat stroke and can cause weakness, lightheadedness, and nausea. </li><li>Heat stroke requires medical attention, whereas heat exhaustion can be treated at home by cooling down the body.</li></ul>Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are two types of heat-related illnesses. These conditions most commonly occur during physical exertion in hot and humid temperatures. Heat exhaustion comes first, and if it's left untreated, it can lead to heat stroke — which may cause damage to vital organs or even be fatal. In fact, more than <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">600 Americans</a> die of heat stroke every year. It's important to understand the different symptoms and treatment methods for heat exhaustion and heat stroke, so you can take the appropriate action to prevent harm. Here's what you need to know. <h2>Differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke</h2><table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; float: left;" border="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25.1804%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Heat-Related Illness </td><td style="width: 25.8174%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Symptoms</td><td style="width: 24.4374%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Treatment</td><td style="width: 24.5648%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Urgency</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25.1804%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Heat stroke</td><td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 25.8174%;"><ul><li>Confusion</li><li>Fainting</li><li>Rapid pulse</li><li>Slurred speech</li><li>Vomiting</li></ul></td><td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 24.4374%;"><ul><li>Submerge the body in cool water</li><li>Use ice packs or cool cloths</li><li>Remove tight clothing</li></ul></td><td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 24.5648%;"><ul><li>Requires medical treatment</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25.1804%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;">Heat exhaustion</td><td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 25.8174%;"><ul><li>Lightheadedness</li><li>Weakness</li><li>Sweating</li><li>Rapid pulse</li><li>Nausea</li></ul></td><td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 24.4374%;"><ul><li>Hydrate with water and electrolytes</li><li>Find cool temperatures</li><li>Use ice packs or cool cloths</li><li>Remove tight clothing</li></ul></td><td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 24.5648%;"><ul><li>Can be managed at home</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>To recognize the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion, it's important to look for changes in mental status. According to <a href="https://kerlanjobe.org/physicians/joshua-scott-md/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Scott</a>, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, someone suffering from heat exhaustion may feel light-headed and weak, but they'll be able to carry on a conversation. Someone suffering from heat stroke will be very confused and may even become unconscious. There are also major differences when it comes to treatment. While heat exhaustion can be treated and managed at home, heat stroke requires a call to 911 and immediate medical attention.Quick tip: If a person's cognitive ability seems to be altered, it's likely that they're experiencing heat stroke, not just heat exhaustion. <h3>Heat exhaustion symptoms</h3>The main <a href="https://www.insider.com/heat-exhaustion-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms of heat exhaustion</a> are: <ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/how-to-stop-sweating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Profuse sweating</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/what-is-a-dangerous-heart-rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rapid, weak pulse</a></li><li>Clammy skin</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/home-remedies-for-nausea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nausea</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/treatments/heat-cramps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heat cramps</a> or muscle spasms</li><li>Lightheadedness</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/shortness-of-breath-causes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shortness of breath</a></li></ul>If you notice these symptoms, you should immediately seek shade or go indoors into air conditioning. You can also help lower your body temperature by drinking lots of water, applying cool, wet cloths while sitting in front of a fan, or submerging yourself in cold water. Quick tip: It can take less than 30 minutes for heat exhaustion to escalate into heat stroke, so try to cool down immediately. <h3>Heat stroke symptoms</h3>If you don't cool yourself down, heat exhaustion can progress into something more dangerous called <a href="https://www.insider.com/heatstroke-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heat stroke</a>. There are two main indicators of heat stroke that differentiate it from heat exhaustion: a core body temperature above 104°F and central nervous system dysfunction. This can result in the following symptoms: <ul><li>Rapid, strong pulse </li><li>Altered mental status, such as confusion, disorientation, or slurring of speech</li><li>Possible loss of consciousness </li><li>Red, flushed skin</li><li>Vomiting </li></ul>If someone is experiencing these symptoms, it's important to call 911 right away. If left untreated, heat stroke can damage vital organs like the brain, liver, or kidneys, and sometimes it is fatal. In the meantime, you should cool the body down in the same way you would with heat exhaustion — submerging in cool water, drinking lots of cold water, and placing wet cloths while in front of a <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/home/best-electric-fan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fan</a> or <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/home/best-air-conditioner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">air conditioner</a>. <h2>Heat exhaustion treatment </h2>Heat exhaustion can be treated without medical intervention if caught in time. A few treatment options include:<ul><li>Get out of the heat and into cooler temperatures. </li><li>Hydrate with water and <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/how-to-get-electrolytes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">electrolytes</a>.</li><li>Cool the body down with cool water, damp cloths, or ice packs.</li><li>Loosen or remove tight clothing.</li></ul><h2>Heat stroke treatment</h2>While heat stroke will require medical attention, there are a few ways to help someone suffering from heat stroke. These include:<ul><li>Submerging them in cool water.</li><li>Placing ice packs or cool clothes around their armpits, groin, and neck.</li><li>Removing unnecessary, tight clothing.</li></ul>Quick tip: Call for medical attention immediately, and apply these treatment methods, if possible, in the meantime. <h2>How to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke </h2>To avoid heat stroke, you have to first prevent heat exhaustion. This can be done using the same precautionary measures for hot and humid temperatures. Here are a few helpful tips that can keep you safe from both heat-related illnesses:<ul><li>Avoid the hottest part of the day. Temperatures are generally highest between 3 and 4:30 pm. If you do wish to exercise outside during the summer months, aim to exercise very early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the sun and higher temperatures.</li><li>Build up to exercise. If you are not acclimated to hot and humid conditions when exercising, don't jump right into it. "Gradually adjust to high temperatures by slowly increasing your exercise duration and intensity over a couple of weeks," says <a href="https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1588084347/elizabeth-barchi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elizabeth Barchi</a>, MD, primary care sports medicine specialist at New York University Langone Sports Health. </li><li>Have a plan. If you are going to be working or exercising outside in the heat, you should have an idea of how you will cool yourself down if you experience symptoms. Barchi recommends thinking through these questions: Is there a place to seek shade on your route? Do you have water with you? Are you able to step into an air-conditioned building? Can you call someone for help? </li><li>Stay hydrated. Your body cools itself by sweating, and if you don't take in enough fluids, your body won't be able to regulate its temperature. Scott recommends taking a drink every 15 to 20 minutes while you work out. </li><li>Wear loose-fitting clothing. Tight or excessive clothing can trap heat, so dress lightly and avoid layering. </li></ul><h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>It's important to know the difference in symptoms and treatment for heat exhaustion and heat stroke — especially for those most at risk, such as young children and older adults. Between 1999 and 2010, more than <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/pictureofamerica/pdfs/picture_of_america_heat-related_illness.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8,000 heat-related deaths were reported in the US</a>. Of those, about 36% were adults aged 65 and older. During hot and humid temperatures, make sure that your loved ones are practicing these measures to prevent heat-related illness and understand what to do if symptoms occur.

Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke: Key differences and how to prevent heat-related illness

What should one do in case of a heatstroke?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The CDC and National Weather Service launched a map to forecast heat-related impacts across the US.</li><li>It uses a five-tier color-numeric scale to indicate potential heat risks in your area.</li></ul>With temperatures rising alongside your electric bills, the CDC and National Weather Service launched a <a target="_blank" href="https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/HeatRisk/">HeatRisk</a> map to help you determine whether you can handle the heat.By plugging in your ZIP code, you can find out just how scorching your area will be for the next seven days — and the possible risks. The map, which we first spotted thanks to The Verge, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/17/24093587/heatwave-forecast-health-risks-online-tool-national-weather-service-cdc">presents</a> a seven-day forecast of the potential threat of heat-related impacts across the US.The heat index follows a five-tier <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/">color-numeric scale</a> from green (little to no risk) to magenta (extreme). Without adequate cooling and hydration, anyone can be impacted at the level of magenta or red (major), the CDC and NWS said.Along with possible elevated risks for heat complications, HeatRisk also takes into consideration the duration of the heat and how unusual it is for that time of year and area.If you remember last summer's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/last-three-months-on-earth-were-the-hottest-on-record-2023-9">record-breaking heat</a>, be prepared for some déjà vu in the next few months.The NWS reported that much of the Midwest to Northeast is set to see "the hottest temperatures of the summer," with possible daily and monthly high-temperature records for June. The heat wave's duration is "potentially the longest experienced in decades for some locations," the agency said.Heat waves aren't just annoying — they can sometimes be deadly.Last year, there were an estimated <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/climate-change-health-equity-environmental-justice/climate-change-health-equity/climate-health-outlook/extreme-heat/index.html">2,300 heat-related deaths</a> in the US, with many suffering from a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dangers-extreme-summer-heat-united-states-poverty-air-conditioning-access-2023-8">lack of access to air conditioning</a>. To avoid heat illnesses such as heat stroke and exhaustion, the NWS suggests people drink plenty of water even if they don't feel thirsty and wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.The <a target="_blank" href="https://health2016.globalchange.gov/low/ClimateHealth2016_09_Populations_small.pdf">most vulnerable groups to heat</a> include young children and infants since their bodies are less adaptable to heat, and older adults, especially those who take certain medications that can interfere with body temperature regulation. Other high-risk individuals include people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women.Extreme heat levels can also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-during">impact infrastructure</a>, including transportation, utilities, and agriculture. It can strain electrical grids, water resources, and certain aircraft operational limits. A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heat-worker-productivity-economy/">2021 study</a> indicated that high heat in the US could result in an estimated $100 billion in reduced productivity annually.Following the launch of its initial prototype for California only in 2013, HeatRisk is now the first variation to include information from the CDC about the health impacts of heat. HeatRisk is still an "experimental product," and the NWS is accepting public feedback via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ExpNWSHeatRisk_2024">survey</a> through September 30.

Is it too hot to be outside? Plug in your ZIP code to check your city's 'heat risk'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Biden administration proposed the first-ever national heat protection standards for workers.</li><li>The rule targets about 35 million workers in industries like construction and agriculture.</li></ul>The Biden administration on Tuesday proposed the first-ever national standards for protecting workers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-heat-already-ruining-summer-travel-going-to-get-worse-2024-6">during excessive heat</a>.The rule, if finalized, would affect about 35 million workers across the country in industries like construction, agriculture, delivery, landscaping, and utility line repair. Workers in restaurants and factories where there isn't <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/more-expensive-cool-home-this-summer-extreme-heat-energy-bills-2024-6">access to air conditioning</a> could also be covered by new requirements for employers.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has to accept public comments before drafting a final regulation in the coming months. If finalized, Republican-led states and business groups are likely to sue the administration to block the rule, and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-decisions-chevron-sec-federal-government-regulations-2024-6">string of recent Supreme Court rulings</a> curtailing federal agencies' power could also make it harder for regulations to survive legal challenges. Former president <a target="_blank" class="contextual_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/donald-trump/?itid=lk_inline_manual_4">Donald Trump</a> would likely block the rule from becoming final if he wins a second term in November.The proposal comes as millions of indoor and outdoor workers have been exposed to record-setting heat waves this summer. On Tuesday, more than 75 million Americans were under heat alerts, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/07/01/july-heat-wave-records-california-plains/">according to the National Weather Service</a>. The climate crisis is causing more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting heat waves in major cities across the US, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-waves">federal climate scientists have found.</a>"Heat is a problem and a growing one," Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su told Business Insider. "For workers, it's not just inconvenient or uncomfortable, it's it's actually potentially deadly. So we are doing this because no worker should have to do a job that's life threatening."More than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/36-work-related-deaths-due-to-environmental-heat-exposure-in-2021.htm">436 workers died on the job due to heat exposure</a> between 2011 and 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly 34,000 workers suffered heat-related injuries that required time away from work.OSHA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/Heat-SBREFA-Panel-Report-Full.pdf">last year said these figures</a> are "vast underestimates" because the definition of a heat-related illness varies by jurisdiction and there's a lack of recognition that heat is a "causal or contributing factor to illness." That leads to inconsistent reporting by medical professionals and employers also underreport these cases, OSHA said. The agency has been criticized by worker safety advocates for failing to conduct more heat inspections, as well.<h2 id="14dfce0d-efe0-4cb1-8a79-194e931cb77d">What will employers have to do and when?</h2>OSHA is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/Heat-NPRM-Final-Background-to-Sum-Ex.pdf">proposing two heat index thresholds</a> that kick in requirements for employers. The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when humidity is combined with the air temperature.Employers with workers exposed to 80 degrees Fahrenheit either indoors or outdoors would have to regularly monitor the temperature and create an injury and illness prevention plan that details how to respond when workers express symptoms of heat illness.Access to drinking water, a shaded or cool break area, and rest breaks would be required. So would an "acclimatization" plan that ensures new employees can gradually adjust to the heat, such as slowly increasing their workload or giving them 15-minute rest breaks every two hours."Notably, acclimatization is the leading killer among the different factors related to heat illness," a senior administration official said. "So 3 out of 4 workers who die on the job due to heat-related heat illness die on that first week and on the job."At 90 degrees additional requirements kick in, including checking in with workers on the job alone, mandatory paid rest breaks every two hours, and a hazard alert system that reminds employees how to stay safe.The rule doesn't cover government employees or emergency responders.<h2 id="6167b0e1-2511-4f69-aafb-3c56d772f05b">Didn't Texas and Florida block heat safety mandates?</h2>Yes, Texas and Florida have blocked local ordinances aimed at protecting workers during extreme heat.A Florida law that took effect on July 1 bars cities and counties in the state from imposing their own rules on business, like requiring water breaks — something Miami-Dade County considered last year.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-extreme-heat-construction-crews-lose-breaks-water-2023-6#:~:text=A%20new%20Texas%20law%20will,crews%20as%20extreme%20heat%20rises&amp;text=The%20heatwave%20across%20the%20Southwest,breaks%20under%20a%20new%20law.">last year also signed a law</a> that preempts local labor, agriculture, environmental, and other policies that don't align with state codes. Critics said the law overrode the few protections that construction workers in Austin and Houston were guaranteed, including 10-minute breaks every four hours to drink water and rest in the shade. Abbott said the goal was to prevent a patchwork of different rules that would be confusing for businesses.A senior administration official said OSHA's proposal, if finalized, would apply to all states including Texas and Florida.Su said she's talked to workers in Texas and Florida, who've asked what a nationwide standard would mean for them. She's reassured them that federal rules would apply in those states, too."This rule is meant to make sure that in every state, employers know what the standard is," Su said. "I hear this all the time from employers that having consistency and predictability is very, very important."<h2 id="26ac1ada-9094-40f8-aee8-b760857d72ff">Do any states already have heat protection laws?</h2>Yes. Five states have laws that aim to protect employees exposed to heat: Minnesota, California, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado.A senior administration official said OSHA's proposal is similar to standards that have been successful in those states.California has had its law on the books since 2006. Washington and Oregon created worker protections after several farm workers died during a heat wave in June 2021.A senior administration official said OSHA will review state plans to ensure they are at least as effective as the federal rules.<h2 id="a94ffa62-a517-438e-9e33-6b3a930128f0">Are businesses opposed to OSHA's rule?</h2>The Guardian <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/31/heat-protections-workers-big-business-lobbies#:~:text=Big%2Dbusiness%20lobbyists%2C%20including,implement%20workplace%20heat%20protection%20standards.">reported </a>that some groups representing agriculture and construction companies have lobbied against state and federal efforts to enact heat protection standards. These groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Construction Industry Safety Coalition, argued that the requirements could be too complex and costly.But groups that represent farmworkers who pick fruits and vegetables in extreme heat in states like California, Arizona, and Florida have pressured OSHA for years to enact a federal standard.A senior administration official said OSHA also convened a national advisory committee of construction representatives comprised of management and labor interests."That group voted unanimously that we proceed expeditiously with rulemaking," the official said. "So while we may not agree on the contents of the proposal, there are fair number of of employer groups out there that that recognize the importance of a level playing field when it comes to a heat rule."Are you a business owner or worker who would be affected by heat protection rules? Contact this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:cboudreau@businessinsider.com">cboudreau@businessinsider.com</a>.

Extreme heat is affecting workers this summer. New federal rules would require bosses to provide rest, water, and shade.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Italian officials are telling people to stay inside as temperatures approach 120 degrees Fahrenheit. </li><li>Factory workers in the south are threatening to strike as temperatures become too dangerous to work.</li></ul>Stay inside, drink water, and avoid alcohol: These are the recommendations from Italian officials as the country swelters under a suffocating heat dome this summer.Temperatures reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit in Italy this week, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/europe-heat-wave-forecast.html">according to the New York Times.</a> The heat is particularly dangerous in Italy, where less than 10% of residents have air conditioning, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/12/europe/italy-heat-wave-record-temperatures-climate-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN reports.</a>Last summer, a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/10/world/deadly-europe-heatwave-2022-climate/index.html">heat wave</a> that swept across Europe, killing more than 60,000 people. About 18,000 of those deaths were in Italy alone. Now the country is preparing for another potentially deadly summer as a heat dome — a wave of high pressure that traps hot air for an extended period — settles over the country.Workers throughout the region are at particularly high risk of heat-related illness and factory workers in southern Italy are preparing to go on strike, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/19/strike-threats-in-italy-and-stoppages-in-greece-as-workers-struggle-with-heat?utm_term=64b8b14ca261a6e25956620756c48aab&amp;utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUK&amp;utm_source=esp&amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;CMP=GTUK_email">The Guardian reported.</a>One car factory even sent workers home early on July 18 after the heat became too dangerous. The outlet reported two workers in Italy are suspected to have died of heat-related illness in recent days: one man in his 60s working in a bakery and a 44-year-old working on roads in Milan. Meanwhile, Italian officials have asked businesses not to send workers outside from noon until 5 pm, according to CNN. The heat is not expected to subside anytime soon, and the coming week may bring record-breaking temperatures to Italy and nearby countries. This pattern may repeat itself for summers to come, some climate experts say, as Europe is experiencing an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves faster than any other region, the New York Times reports.

After 18,000 heat-related deaths last summer, Italy is yet again scrambling to protect people from an oppressive 'heat dome'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jim Ward, 61, said he "escaped" to Tennessee after living in Texas for 20 years.</li><li>Ward said he was ultimately tired of Texas' hot climate and relatively higher property taxes.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jim Ward, a 61-year-old who works in cybersecurity and moved from Dallas, Texas, to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2022. The essay, which also incorporates quotes from emails between Ward and BI, has been edited for length and clarity.I am not a native Texan, but I have lived there during three different time frames of my life: Houston from 1991 to 1993, Dallas from 1994 to 1995, and then Dallas again from 2002 to 2022.Texas has never really factored into any of my life plans, but job and family situations just kept pulling me there.When I relocated to Texas in 2002, I intended to stay for only four to five years so that I could attend a graduate school program in Dallas and then move elsewhere. But my oldest had just started middle school, and had become very active in school and our church. I did not want to uproot my kids, so we stayed.After 20 years of living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, my wife and I finally escaped to Tennessee two years ago.<h2 id="af1e9120-061b-46c2-8364-0581eb57a92c">Texas has its pros and cons</h2>Over the years, I have developed a love-hate relationship with Texas.There are definitely a lot of positives about living in the state. For instance, it has many great public schools and restaurants, especially Tex-Mex ones. And from a financial standpoint, its biggest advantage is that there is no state income tax — though that is more than offset by property taxes.There are problems though, like oppressive heat and humidity, a lack of natural beauty, and enjoyable outdoor activities.There's also a lot of distance between key destinations, causing far drives.<h2 id="9eaf129f-64fa-4ec4-a109-be4dc90cd110">It's way too hot in Texas and there's not much to do</h2>One of my primary problems with Texas is its climate and weather.It gets quite hot during the summer, and throughout the year there are also severe ice and hailstorms. Sometimes it can result in periods of extended power outages during both summer and winter months.As far as geography goes, in the Dallas area, the terrain is predominantly flat with few trees. Consequently, outdoor activities are limited, and there are few opportunities for hiking and camping.The lack of foliage also means there is minimal shade. Even activities like running are affected by the relentless heat. I always had to go early in the morning or later in the evening.That said, there are many lakes, and people do like to go boating or water skiing.<h2 id="59c176c8-310a-4d21-84fe-f87e370fef19">Texas has a great tech scene</h2>Just about every major corporation in the US has a presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — all of them with their own internal technology needs.As a result, there are numerous technology companies, particularly in cities like Las Colinas and Plano. This makes DFW a great place for tech workers because there are many professional networking opportunities, such as associations, events, and conferences.<div type="image" title="The Dallas Love Field airport." height="1494" width="2362" msid="110677893" hostid="261" sizebytes="139708"></div>While living in Texas, I had a job that required a lot of traveling. DFW's central location was a plus because it was convenient for air travel.The area has two major commercial passenger airports: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport.Depending on your destination, numerous air carriers offer direct nonstop flights to almost anywhere, greatly reducing travel time — though it may limit your frequent-flyer miles.<h2 id="fc63e6be-ce84-4831-be0d-801e57eb3d15">Taxes are higher in Texas but the homes are more affordable</h2>We owned and lived in four different houses across Texas, while also investing in two houses in Irving and Fort Worth, which we rehabilitated and rented out. We sold both of those rental houses shortly before we left Texas.The last home we owned and lived in was in Highland Village, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth, which was our favorite. My wife and I purchased our 3,600-square-foot home in 2015, and it appreciated by 50% over six years.Our property taxes only went up by about $1,000 since we purchased our home, but were still significantly higher than in the previous states I lived in, Virginia and North Carolina.<div type="image" title="Jim Ward's Texas home." height="3024" width="4032" msid="110677894" hostid="261" sizebytes="2371490"></div>The real estate market favored us when selling the Highland Village house, but we weren't as lucky when purchasing a new house in Tennessee. We ended up buying a home that was 1,000 square feet smaller but 30% more expensive than the house we sold in Texas.We chose Tennessee because our two daughters moved here. We live in a suburban area fairly close to downtown Knoxville. We're in an apartment as we wait to move into our new house.<h2 id="6e01a9b5-551f-4d8b-8826-02b384315bb0">Our quality of life has improved in Tennessee</h2>There are certainly several similarities between Tennessee and Texas, but I also see a lot of differences.For instance, while the summers can be quite hot here, the weather doesn't stay that way for long. Tennessee actually experiences all four seasons.<div type="image" title="Jim Ward hiking on the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park." height="2268" width="3024" msid="110677896" hostid="261" sizebytes="1103958"></div>In Knoxville, there are a lot of the same amenities that you might find in a city like Dallas, but there are also a lot more outdoor activities.My wife and I have really enjoyed hiking and being near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the trailhead is about 50 miles from our home in Knoxville. We visit the national park numerous times throughout the year.<div type="image" title="Aerial view of Knoxville, Tennessee, skyline." height="3000" width="4000" msid="110677897" hostid="261" sizebytes="985416"></div>Knoxville is a sizable city, but it's nowhere near the size of Dallas or Houston, so that's been a big change. Even still, we've enjoyed living here so far.I never really enjoyed downtown Houston or Dallas. But in Knoxville, we go downtown almost every weekend — there's a lot you can do without leaving the city.It is very "walkable" and easily accessible, with numerous dining and entertainment options as well as frequent special events. We have season tickets for Broadway musicals at the Tennessee Theatre.While there are some things about Texas I miss, like the abundance of air travel options and its restaurant scene, I do wish we had moved to Tennessee a little earlier.

You Searched For "National Heat Related Illness" and got 12 results

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I 'escaped' Texas for Tennessee. I loved the food and tech scene, but got tired of the heat and rising property taxes.

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