Since 2006, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) has conducted routine surveillance of heat-associated deaths in the county. During that time, the number of deaths each year has been on the rise with 2022 numbers showing a 25% increase over 2021. Risk factors such as homelessness and alcohol and drug use have been shown to increase the risk of heat-associated death. During the summer of 2023, record-breaking heat in the metro-Phoenix area was widely reported. The MCDPH heat-associated death surveillance data was widely reported and used by policy makers to address extreme heat as a regional disaster. In this presentation participants will learn how heat-associated death surveillance has evolved over time to inform public health leaders and policy makers to the risk factors associated with poor outcomes from extreme heat. Participants will also understand how the data is shared at the local, national and international levels to inform extreme heat response activities.

Participants will learn how heat-associated death surveillance has evolved over time to inform public health leaders and policy makers of the risk factors associated with poor outcomes from extreme heat.

Participants will also understand how the data is shared at the local, national and international levels to inform extreme heat response activities.