Blackout during heat wave will send thousands in Phoenix to ER, warns study

Multiday blackout during a heat wave this summer would send nearly 800,000 Phoenix, Arizona residents to the emergency room (ER), warns new research. Atlanta and Detroit are also at risk.

Last year, there were 400 heat-related deaths in Phoenix alone.

The study comes during a time when analysis predicts that two-thirds of North America, including the Southwest, could face shortfalls in the electrical grid. 

Spikes in demand for air-conditioning during sweltering summers would be the main reason for blackouts. Cyber attacks, wind storms and hurricanes would also cause power outages.

Problematic
Power failures during a heatwave will accelerate the number of people experiencing serious heat-related illnesses—like heat stroke—sending thousands to the ER.

This would place a strain on the hospital system, which has only 3,000 emergency department beds. The study estimates 12,800 people in Phoenix would die.

Tree canopies and high albedo roofing that reflects large amounts of sunlight to the atmosphere—are a few solutions offered.