LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A new report from Clark County has tallied all the lives claimed by heat-related illnesses in 2024.
A Clark County spokesperson says the current total number of deaths sits at 63. However, only 46 of those deaths were listed after being identified and next-of-kin were notified. As 90% of cases within the Clark County Coroner’s Office take around 90 days to be determined, the county emphasized that the final total for the year is likely to be even higher.
The most common causes of death included “cardiovascular disease” and “environmental heat stress,” though another stand-out category included “methamphetamine toxicity.” The Southern Nevada Health District has previously highlighted how drugs, such as fentanyl, can exacerbate the effects of excessive heat on an individual.
Other contributing factors in heat-related deaths include pre-existing medical conditions, fatigue, and hydration.
The youngest death was a 29-year-old male who died of methamphetamine toxicity. The oldest death was a 94-year-old man who died of Diabetes.
The coroner ruled every death listed in the report as an accident.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.
