Homeless die in Arizona heat wave

The conditions in Phoenix are part of a larger heat wave that has swept across much of the United States, with temperatures in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Washington D.C. and scores of other cities reaching record highs anywhere between 100-120 degrees. The extreme heat has been particularly severe and prolonged in the southwest region of the country. While the deaths in Phoenix have drawn the most attention, there have undoubtedly been many heat-related deaths in other cities throughout the country.

At least 200 heat records have been broken this month in different parts of the country. Parts of 23 states have been under heat advisory at some point during the month. Over the weekend, Chicago experienced temperatures not seen since the 1995 heat wave that killed hundreds. Three heat-related deaths have been reported so far.

While the homeless are considered to be at the highest risk for death due to prolonged heat exposure, anyone who works outdoors or does not have a cooling system in their home is also considered at risk, particularly the elderly.

While the official death toll for last week currently stands at 21, the Arizona Republic stated Sunday that it “is probably only a small portion of the true figure, according to experts. The actual number is probably much higher, a number not captured in statistics because heat is either not listed on the death certificate or listed only as a contributing factor.”

A total of 21 heat-related deaths in Phoenix for one week in July is particularly alarming considering that the total number of heat-related deaths throughout the entire previous year was 34.

The number of homeless who have died in Phoenix is due in large part to the fact that the city does not have sufficient homeless shelters to allow people to escape from the blistering heat. Central Arizona Shelter Services is equipped to accommodate 520 people. Including other shelters there are only 1,600 beds available in the country, while the number of homeless people in the county is estimated at 10-12,000. Many of the beds are available only in the winter.

The bodies of the homeless were found in dirt lots, vehicles, and between buildings. Police and others who volunteered to bring water to homeless people found that some were too weak to move. Some homeless people have taken to swimming in canals to stay cool during the day.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2005/jul2005/heat-j26.shtml