San Antonio begins tracking heat-related deaths
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San Antonio's Metro Health is now tracking heat-related deaths on its online dashboard, giving the public its strongest view yet into the fatal impacts of extreme heat in Texas.
Why it matters: Texas has recorded more heat-related deaths in recent years that correlate with record-high temperatures — but Bexar County residents haven't had access to local data before.
- Older adults, children, people experiencing homelessness and outdoor workers are especially susceptible to heat-related illnesses and deaths.
The big picture: Extreme heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S. Still, experts say the deaths are likely an undercount. There is no standard way that cities and counties track heat-related deaths across Texas.
- A study published this year found that "heat kills far more people in Texas than official records show." Co-authored by Andrew Dessler of Texas A&M, it modeled how different ways of counting heat-related deaths result in very different numbers.
Flashback: Progressive councilmembers Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Teri Castillo filed a policy proposal last year asking San Antonio to track heat-related deaths, calling them a "silent killer."
- The data will allow the city to better address "the broader climate crisis and its impacts on vulnerable communities," McKee-Rodriguez tells Axios in a statement.
What they're saying: "Metro Health's primary focus remains on preventing heat-related illnesses and deaths by promoting heat safety awareness and encouraging residents to take precautions to protect themselves and others during extreme heat conditions," Claude Jacob, the city's Metro Health director, tells Axios in a statement.
By the numbers: The dashboard showed zero heat-related deaths so far this season as of Friday. It tracked 16 heat-related illnesses, primarily heat exhaustion.
How it works: The city is using data from death certificates for its dashboard, Jacob says. That will capture deaths in which heat was a contributing factor, in addition to those where it's the main cause of death.
- The death certificate data comes from the Texas Department of State Health Services' Vital Statistics Section. The information is subject to change.
Context: High heat exposure can lead to a heart attack or stroke, which may be listed as someone's primary cause of death. But with enough information, officials can determine whether heat was a contributing factor.
Yes, but: Not all officials will list heat as a contributing factor. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office does not, county spokesperson Monica Ramos tells Axios.
- The office also does not publicly share the number of deaths in which heat was the primary cause.
Zoom in: Death certificates will capture deaths beyond those investigated by the medical examiner. An attending physician or justice of the peace can also record the cause of death.
Zoom out: The city has a new "Heat Resilience Playbook" with 52 actions to address extreme heat, from planting more trees to growing the city's network of places to stay cool.
The bottom line: San Antonio will have its best view yet into the number of local heat-related deaths this summer, but don't expect the data to be perfect.