News

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on extreme heat in Georgia, interviewing CHART experts and mentioning the new Rollins School of Public Health climate and health indicator dashboard. Read the full article here. 

Heat-related illnesses and fatalities result when the body’s ability to cool itself is overwhelmed by high temperatures, causing a dangerous increase in body heat that can harm vital organs, including the brain. Noah Scovronick, an environmental health scientist, emphasizes that unlike other weather-related disasters, nearly everyone faces heat exposure, impacting various bodily systems. Beyond physical health, hot weather is linked to increased rates of suicide, violent crime, substance use, and hospital visits for anxiety and depressive disorders. Even moderately high temperatures pose health risks, prompting efforts by researchers, healthcare professionals, and trainers to raise awareness about heat-related dangers.