Heat illnesses on the rise in Arkansas

Visits to Arkansas hospitals for heat-related illnesses increased for the fourth year in a row, jumping to 1,994 in 2023, according to data from the state Department of Health.

Context: The state had 2,036 visits in 2019 and dipped to 1,148 in 2020, but the number has climbed ever since.

The big picture: Heat-related deaths in the U.S. rose by 117% between 1999 and 2023, claiming more than 21,500 lives over that time, according to a new analysis of Centers for Disease Control data.

• Heatwaves are getting longer and more intense, and as temperatures continue to rise from climate change, planners in at-risk areas should expand access to hydration and public cooling centers, and make other accommodations, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim writes .

Zoom in: Deaths from heat-related illnesses in 2023 totaled 22 in Arkansas — double the 11 in 2019.

The bottom line: You can prevent heat risk by drinking plenty of water, wearing loose-fitting clothing and staying inside during the hottest hours of the day, health officials say.

Know the signs of heat illnesses like heat stroke .