2019 heat-related illness surveillance summary report · biosurveillance system, to track...
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2019 Heat-related Illness Surveillance Summary Report October 9, 2019 Reporting for May 21, 2019 to September 16, 2019
Total Heat Advisories Declared This Year: 6 (7/17, 7/18, 7/19, 7/21, 7/22)
Note: Heat Indexes are only calculated for temperatures above 80˚F with humidity of 43% or greater
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at-
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late
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ess
es
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mp
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ture
(ᵒF
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Temperature Data May-September 2019
Emergency Department Chief Complaints EMS Reports Heat Index High Temp
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*Note: ESSENCE chief complaint query for heat-related illness contains the following terms: hyperthermia, heat, dehydration and sunburn
*Note: ESSENCE chief complaint query for heat-related illness contains the following terms: hyperthermia, heat, dehydration and
sunburn
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Geographical Distribution of Emergency Department Chief
Complaints Regarding Heat-related Illnesses for May 21, 2019 to
September 16, 2019
*Geographical distribution of emergency department chief complaints is based on patients' jurisdictions of residence. The "Other
Region" category includes patient records without a ZIP code and patients who reside outside of Maryland.
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Worcester
Wicomico
Washington
Talbot
St. Mary's
Somerset
Queen Anne's
Prince George's
Other region*
Montgomery
Kent
Howard
Harford
Garrett
Frederick
Dorchester
Charles
Cecil
Carroll
Caroline
Calvert
Baltimore County
Baltimore City
Anne Arundel
Allegany
Count of Chief Complaints
Reg
ion
Geographical Distribution
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Age Group Distribution of Emergency Department Chief
Complaints Regarding Heat-related Illnesses for May 21, 2019 to
September 16, 2019
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65+
45-64
18-44
5-17
0-4
Unknown
Count of Chief Complaints
Age
Gro
up
Age Group Distribtuion
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There was a total of twenty-one heat-related deaths in Maryland during the
2019 heat monitoring period. Seven of the reported deaths occurred during the
excessive heat event from 7.17-7.22.19. It is not determined if two of the
reported deaths were suspected or presumed homeless individuals. One death
was reported after the final report was distributed but occurred within the 2019
heat monitoring period.
*Note: Heat-related death numbers, listed on this page and these charts, may differ in future reports as the OCME potentially may
unpend death reports from this reporting period after the release of this Summary Report
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02468
10121416
May June July August September
2019 Heat Deaths by Month
2019 Deaths Average Temp (Reporting Period 2019)
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2019 Maryland Heat Deaths by Jurisdiction
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Trends in Heat-related deaths (2015-2019)
There were 6 heat-related deaths in Maryland during the 2015 heat monitoring
period, 17 heat-related deaths during the 2016 heat monitoring period, 5 heat-
related deaths during the 2017 heat monitoring period, and 28 heat-related
deaths during the 2018 heat monitoring period. There was a total of 21 heat-
related deaths in Maryland during the 2019 heat monitoring period.
*Note: Heat-related death numbers, listed on this page and chart, may differ in future reports as the OCME potentially may unpend death reports from this reporting period after the release of this Summary Report.
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May June July August September
Heat Deaths by Month
2019 Deaths 2018 2017 2016 2015
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*Note: Heat-related death numbers, listed on this chart, may differ in future reports as the OCME potentially may unpend death reports from this reporting period after the release of this Summary Report.
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2015-2019 Maryland Heat Deaths by Jurisdiction
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
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Heat Advisory Criteria: The National Weather Service will issue a Heat Advisory when the heat
index value is expected to reach 105 to 109 degrees Fahrenheit within the next 12 to 24 hours. A
Heat Advisory may be issued for lower criteria if it is early in the season or during a multiday heat
wave. NWS will issue an Excessive Heat Warning when the heat index value is expected to reach
or exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit within the next 12 to 24 hours. An Excessive Heat Warning may
be issued for lower criteria if it is early in the season or during a multiday heat wave.
Emergency Department Data: The results from the query used in ESSENCE, an electronic
biosurveillance system, to track heat-related illnesses may be an overestimation of the actual burden
of illness related to the hot weather. This overestimation is due to the nature of the query, which
includes the term dehydration, a condition that may be caused by factors other than heat. As of
September 2018, visit data from 22 urgent care centers are now included in ESSENCE
emergency department visit data.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Data: These data are based on EMS pre-hospital care reports
where the EMS provider has selected “Heat Exhaustion/Heat Stroke” and/or “Hyperthermia” as a
primary or secondary impression a patient’s illness. This impression is solely based on the signs
and symptoms seen by the provider, not on any diagnostic tests. Since these numbers do not
include all primary or secondary impressions that may be seen with heat exposure the actual
numbers may be low. These data are reported for trending purposes only.
Suspected Homeless Death Data: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) Field Investigators use the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) homeless definition to
determine suspected homeless deaths. Homeless deaths are listed as suspected due to the limited
information available to the Field Investigators at the time of investigation, which may result in
some misclassifications.
For more information about extreme cold and emergency preparedness, follow the Office of
Preparedness and Response on Twitter and Facebook.
For media inquiries, please contact the Office of Communications: 410-767-6490
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Prepared by:
Office of Preparedness and Response
Maryland Department of Health 300 W. Preston Street, Suite 202
Baltimore, MD 21201
http://preparedness.health.maryland.gov
Kristin A. Dietz, MS Chief Local Health & Health Planning
Office: 410-767-06391
Email: [email protected]
Jessica Acharya, MPH Career Epidemiology Field Officer
Office: 410-767- 6745
Email: [email protected]
Peter Fotang, MD, MPH Epidemiologist, Biosurveillance Program
Office: 410-767- 8438
Email: [email protected]
Jennifer Stanley, MPH Epidemiologist, Biosurveillance Program
Office: 410-767-2074
Email: [email protected]
Sara Barra, MS Emergency Operations Manager
Office: 410-767-6434
Email: [email protected]
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