Code Switch Hot weather kills. Who gets protected?
11 snips
Aug 5, 2025 
Join Alejandra Barunda, a climate reporter at NPR, alongside Rebecca Hersher and Lauren McGahee, as they dive into the deadly impacts of extreme heat. They share harrowing personal stories of vulnerable populations—like roofers in Florida and inmates in Texas prisons—highlighting systemic neglect and the urgent need for improved protections. The discussion questions which lives society prioritizes in the face of climate-driven tragedies and calls for accountability to prevent further loss.
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Worker Nearly Dies in Extreme Heat
- Daniel Christopher, an oil refinery worker, almost died from heat exposure working in 105-degree conditions without shade or air circulation.
- Such extreme heat can cause dangerous symptoms like ceasing to sweat and chills, demonstrating the deadly risks heat workers face.
Undercounting Heat Deaths
- Heat-related deaths are massively undercounted in the U.S., possibly by a factor of 10 or more.
- Those most affected are poor, elderly, people of color, migrant, and incarcerated workers with little power to demand safer conditions.
De-Warming Safely in Heat
- To de-warm in extreme heat, rest in shade and take frequent water breaks.
- These simple protections are crucial for outdoor or hot-indoor workers to avoid deadly heat illness.