This story was originally Cast Vox and, Climate Desk collaboration.
a 4-month-old baby dies in Arizona As temperatures rose into triple digits, 2-year-old child dies in carAt least four people have also died in Arizona. Heat stroke in OregonOne motorbike rider died and another passenger fell ill. Run through Death Valley as temperatures reached a record 128 degrees Fahrenheit.
These are just some of the dangers posed by the extreme heat we experienced last week. As the weather gets hotter, Extreme heat Become Our new normalSummer will continue to remind us that high temperatures are a terrible threat.
And in other countries, heatwaves are already proving to be even more devastating. 30 people from Pakistanis more than 100 in Indiaand more 125 in Mexico This year, people have died from the heatwave. Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabiaextremely hot weather caused more than 1,300 deaths. whoHeatstroke is the leading cause of weather-related deaths, and as global average temperatures rise, The risks are growing.
It’s odd that in many aspects of our culture, extreme heat is seen as something to be embraced, endured with bravery, ignored with equanimity, or, in the case of some marginalized communities, even taken for granted altogether.
Books, movies, TV shows, common metaphors, idioms, and social media often reinforce the idea that heat is something that can be overcome if you have enough willpower. But climate change means that it’s no longer physically possible to “beat” the heat. As temperatures rise, it’s simply not possible in some parts of the world. Beyond the limits of practical survival.
Millions of Americans who work or spend significant amounts of time outdoors in the summer are past the point where they can safely go without regular shade and hydration, and it’s becoming increasingly inadequate. But ironically, the more we rely on air conditioners and other artificial cooling systems, the further away we are from the urgency of the problem.
Barring emergencies like wildfires, the heat itself isn’t an immediate problem — it creeps up on us, gradually causing health problems over hours, during which everything seems fine, but it’s not.
It’s worth examining our attitudes about heat: what causes it, what prejudices we hold, and why, in the face of global warming, it’s so hard to cast off the idea that not being able to adapt to extreme heat is some kind of personal failing.
No one needs to get extremely hot, much less die.
Our stories about heat are all about breaking through the heat: what happens if we can’t?
We don’t question the need for heating in the winter, so why do we consider cooling in the summer a luxury? The hottest year on record And perhaps The worst heatwave death tollThe policies needed to address the heat are surprisingly weak in the United States, if they even exist at all. For example, the federal agency in charge of workplace safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), only began taking action this year. Federal Workplace Safety Standards for Extreme Heat in spite of Workers across the country are dying regularly in the workplace. This is due to high temperatures over many years.
How did we get to this point? The delay in developing federal protections for workers exposed to heat may have to do with the notion that if workers can’t stand the heat it’s because they’re not tough enough — a literal translation of “if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen” and a deeply ingrained cultural trope.
