LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – As temperatures rise, so do deaths in Clark County.
Clark County Coroner Melanie Rouse says, the summer months are the busiest for the Coroner’s Office, and there are steps they take to ensure they’re prepared for an increased caseload.
Rouse says other areas with colder climates may see their busy seasons over the winter, but for the Las Vegas Valley, the busiest time of year for the Coroner’s Office is between May and September.
“It could be a combination of more people and visitors out in the community participating in extracurricular activities, it could be more visitors to our area, it could be related to some of our heat fatalities,” Rouse says.
According to Clark County, in 2024 heat was a factor in 527 deaths.
“You can never talk about heat without also talking about drug related fatalities, specifically fentanyl and other opiates,” Rouse says. “You also cannot talk about heat without talking about underlying medical conditions.”
Rouse says, before the summer, the Coroner’s Office will increase their cold storage, and give funeral homes a heads up about the increase in caseload they see over the summertime.
She says, they will also increase staffing, by adjusting existing staff schedules, and even bringing in outside physicians for extra help.
It takes two weeks for the human body to acclimate to a particular temperature, according to Rouse. She suggests not exposing yourself to the heat if you don’t have to.
Clark County is looking to expand cooling center hours for the upcoming summer later into the evening and the weekend.
Churches and community organizations interested in serving as cooling centers that can stay open during those times can email [email protected].
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