In Florida, the fight to protect everyone from the lethal consequences of extreme heat gains ground and faces setbacks.
Nate Rosenfield reports for Grist.
In short:
- Laurie Giordano advocated for heat-illness protections after her son died from heat stroke, leading to the Zachary Martin Act, which mandates emergency medical plans in schools for treating heat injuries.
- Despite the act's success, similar protections for Florida's outdoor workers, including farmworkers and construction laborers, have consistently failed to pass in the legislature.
- Florida leads the nation in hospitalizations due to heat illness, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive heat-illness protections across all occupations.
Key quote:
“No mom should ever drop their kid off at football practice and then never hear their voice again,”
— Laurie Giordano, advocate for heat-illness protections.
Why this matters:
Climate change is leading to hotter temperatures, more frequent and severe heatwaves, and longer summers. These conditions are not just uncomfortable—they are deadly. Knowing how many people die or get sick from heat-related causes is essential for the policy arguments to equitably adapt to and mitigate climate change.
