Heat-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Florida

• Activity Number: 296
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: ENAR
• Author(s): Emily Leary*+ and Linda Young
• Companies: University of Florida and University of Florida
• Keywords: Climate change ; Florida ; heat events ; heat-related morbidity ; heat-related mortality

Abstract

Projected climate change over the next 100 years suggests that Florida will exhibit the most dramatic predicted increase in average temperature in the nation. Climate change can impact human health in several ways, exacerbating existing conditions and symptoms while causing others. Most of the past research on weather-related health effects has focused on areas during times of known heat waves and evaluated the aftermath with respect to increased mortality and/or morbidity. Here, weather and atmosphere data for Florida are used to determine heat events, then the effect of these heat events on Florida residents with respect to both morbidity and mortality is examined. During multiple heat events, hospital admission and emergency department data are used to evaluate heat-related morbidity patterns. Using death certificates, heat-related mortality is analyzed during the same time frame.