Perspective: Extreme heat is a fact of summer. Its health harms don’t have to be

July 18, 2026 - 17:20

As yet another heat dome settles over part of the U.S., a depressingly predictable news cycle is unfolding. This week, the headlines will warn of dangerously high temperatures; next week, they will chronicle the human toll. Emergency rooms will see a surge in heatstroke cases, utility bills will spike, and the most vulnerable among us will suffer the most. But this cycle does not have to be inevitable.

The reality is that extreme heat is a fixed feature of modern summers, driven by a changing climate. However, the health harms that follow are not fixed at all. They are the result of a collective failure to adapt. We know which populations are at risk: the elderly, outdoor workers, people with chronic illnesses, and those without air conditioning. We also know what works. Simple measures like opening cooling centers, checking on neighbors, and adjusting work schedules to avoid peak heat hours can save lives.

Cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles are already experimenting with reflective pavement and tree canopy programs to lower urban temperatures. Yet many communities still treat heat waves as isolated emergencies rather than a recurring seasonal threat. The difference between a dangerous summer and a survivable one is not the weather. It is the preparation. We cannot stop the heat from coming, but we can stop treating its worst effects as something we have to accept.