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Wednesday, June 18, 2025

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Israel announces wave of strikes on Tehran after Trump demands Iran's unconditional surrender; NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander arrested at immigration court; Federal bill would dim rooftop solar's future, says Michigan CEO; Despite known Iowa nitrate risks, EPA focuses on fluoride; Georgia's Macon-Bibb County launches justice reform plan.

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Trump's big budget and policy act faces pushback from clean energy advocates and small businesses. A federal court weighs legality of deploying the California National Guard over the governor's objections. And ICE detains a New York mayoral candidate.

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EV charging stations are harder to find in rural America, improving the mental health of children and teachers is the goal of a new partnership in seven rural states, and a once segregated Mississippi movie theater is born again.

Ways to stay safe as heat-related illness ticks up

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Friday, July 5, 2024   

As the calendar turns to summer, emergency rooms start seeing more patients due to seasonal injuries and illnesses and expanded virtual health care options may help.

Across the country, heat-related emergency room visits are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And summers are getting hotter. The annual number of days over 90 degrees Fahrenheit in New Jersey in 2000 was 14 and it is expected to double in the mid-2020s to as high as 29 days per year, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

Donna O'Shea, chief medical Officer of population health for UnitedHealthcare, said proper hydration and sun protection are vital

"There is such a condition as overheating and heatstroke," O'Shea pointed out. "It's important to recognize those signs early. The signs of overheating do include headaches, nausea or dizziness."

O'Shea pointed out people aged 65 and over are especially prone to heat stroke and children should also be monitored closely, as their internal cooling systems may still be developing. In addition to sun and heat, O'Shea noted seasonal safety concerns also include bicycle and water safety.

Virtual health care options expanded during the pandemic and are now useful for patients traveling or on vacation when they need medical assistance.

Jennifer Shukaitis, family and community health sciences educator for Rutgers Cooperative Extension, recommended people traveling over the summer learn about their virtual health options before they leave.

"When you're in that moment and something goes wrong is not the time that you want to start researching your options," Shukaitis emphasized. "Contacting your service providers before you leave so that you know exactly what your options are is a great way to stay safe and also just have peace of mind that you know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency or anything happening."

Shukaitis added people may be able to send doctors images of an injury or symptom or talk over video, depending on their providers.

Disclosure: UnitedHealthcare contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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