Extreme Heat Events Highlight the Need for Sustainability Efforts

As the summer comes to a boil with temperatures rising to 100 degrees in the Omaha area over the last week, it's important to consider the health risks associated with exposure to extreme heat events. 

Extreme heat events occur when two or more consecutive days have temperatures exceed 90 degrees. Exposure to extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion, heatstroke and even death, particularly in vulnerable populations. Extreme heat has consistently ranked as the deadliest type of extreme weather in the United States.

This is part of a consistent warming trend that has been experienced across the U.S. for decades. Across the country, there was a nearly 70% increase in heat-related deaths between 2008 and 2018. Temperatures are predicted to continue to rise, with projections showing that Omaha could be facing 35 or more days over 100 degrees annually by midcentury. 

The rise in temperature is particularly noticeable in developed areas where surfaces like buildings, roads, sidewalks and parking lots absorb heat and warm the area. A heat study done in Omaha last summer indicated that some areas in eastern Omaha experienced temperatures 9.4 degrees hotter than surrounding areas.

Get Involved With Sustainability at Methodist

Methodist recently completed a five-year update to its Sustainability Master Plan, with plans to take on more aggressive emission reduction goals to help mitigate the impacts of climate change. 

Employees are also involved in sustainability efforts, and you’re invited to join the Sustainable Health Implementation Program (SHIP) Ambassadors program. 

Ambassadors support efforts to be more sustainable by fostering a culture of sustainability at their specific locations and by taking an active role in helping Methodist achieve its sustainability engagement goals.

To join the ambassadors, click here. To learn more about sustainability at Methodist, visit the sustainability page on the MHS intranet.