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| With extreme heat continuing, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is urging residents to pay special attention to risk factors and to vulnerable populations like young children and older adults, who account for nearly all confirmed heat-related deaths in the state this year. LDH has confirmed eight heat-related deaths in 2026; seven involved people ages 65 or older. From 2023 through 2025, LDH recorded 172 heat-related deaths. Adults ages 65 and older accounted for 38% of those deaths while representing approximately 19% of the state’s population. Approximately 60% of the people who died were in a residential setting, and 15% had no or limited air conditioning. “The number of elderly heat-related deaths signals a call to action for every family, neighbor, and caregiver,” said LDH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein. “These deaths are preventable. Check that the older adults in your life have water, working air conditioning or another cool place to go, and someone checking on them. Hydrate. Find shade or a cool indoor space. Rest. Those simple steps can save a life.” Protect older adults Older adults may not adjust as well to sudden temperature changes. Chronic conditions can complicate the body’s response to heat, and some prescription medicines can affect temperature control, sweating, or hydration.During periods of extreme heat, families, neighbors, and caregivers should check on older adults at least twice a day and confirm that they: Have water. Encourage them to drink before they feel thirsty. If a doctor limits their fluids or prescribes a fluid pill, they should ask how much to drink during hot weather.Have a cool place to stay. Use air conditioning when available. If a home is not cool enough, make a plan to spend the hottest part of the day with family or in a library, senior center, community center, or other air-conditioned public place.Are not showing signs of heat stress. Ask how they feel and watch for a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, heavy sweating, or unusual thirst.Understand their medication risks. A health care professional or pharmacist can explain how medicines may affect heat tolerance. No one should stop a prescribed medication without medical advice. Three actions that protect everyone Hydrate. Drink water before feeling thirsty and keep drinking throughout the day.Find shade or a cool indoor space. Get out of direct sun and give the body time to cool down.Rest. Limit heavy exertion, take frequent breaks, and move strenuous activity to cooler parts of the day when possible. Protect children from heat As school starts, so do carpools, recess, marching band, and after-school practices. Adults should remind children to drink water regularly, take breaks, and speak up if they feel dizzy, weak, nauseated, or unusually hot. Never leave a child in a parked vehicle, even briefly or with a window open. A vehicle can become dangerous quickly. Check the entire vehicle before locking it and make sure transportation routines account for every child. Stay safe around water Pools, lakes, and rivers can offer relief from the heat, but drowning can happen in seconds and is often silent. Families should use layers of protection. Supervise closely and constantly. A responsible adult should give children full attention whenever they are in or near water, even when a lifeguard is present or a child has had swimming lessons.Use properly fitted life jackets. Children and adults should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around natural water and while boating. Floaties and water wings are not safety devices.Learn swimming and water-safety skills. Lessons are valuable for children and adults, but they never replace supervision. Know when to call 911 At the first signs of heat illness, stop activity, move the person to a cool or shaded place, and offer frequent sips of cool water. Confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, or a very high body temperature may indicate heat stroke. Call 911 immediately and begin cooling the person while help is on the way. Other heat-related risks Vibrio cases have increased recently due to extreme heat. So far in 2026, nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus have been reported among Louisiana residents. All nine patients were hospitalized, and five died. All nine cases were associated with wounds exposed to seawater, and all patients had underlying health conditions. Infection can occur when an open wound is exposed to brackish or salt water or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters. Cyclosporiasis can cause dehydration, which exacerbates symptoms of heat illness. Stay up to date on recalls and market withdrawals, wash all fresh food before eating, and store properly and quickly. ResourcesPublic Health Data Spotlight | Louisiana Department of HealthHeat safety:HEAT Dashboard | Louisiana Department of HealthHeat Risk Fact Sheet | Louisiana Department of HealthOlder Adults Heat Advice | Louisiana Department of HealthExtreme Heat & Pregnancy | Louisiana Department of HealthWater safety:Drowning Prevention | CDCGet a Swim Plan | Louisiana Department of HealthRecall information:Current Outbreaks | Foodborne Outbreaks | CDCRecalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts | FDA |
| About the Louisiana Department of HealthThe Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all state residents. The Louisiana Department of Health includes the Office of Public Health, Office of Aging and Adult Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Office of Economic Stability, Office of Health and Nutrition, Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Supports, Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability, Office of State Health Care Facilities, Office on Women’s Health and Community Health, and Healthy Louisiana (Medicaid). To learn more, visit ldh.la.gov or follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. |