People around the world suffered an average of 41 extra days of dangerous heat this year because of human-caused climate change, according to a group of scientists who also said that climate change worsened much of the world’s damaging weather throughout 2024.
“The finding is devastating but utterly unsurprising: Climate change did play a role, and often a major role in most of the events we studied, making heat, droughts, tropical cyclones and heavy rainfall more likely and more intense across the world, destroying lives and livelihoods of millions and often uncounted numbers of people,” Friederike Otto, the lead of World Weather Attribution and an Imperial College climate scientist, said during a media briefing on the scientists’ findings. “As long as the world keeps burning fossil fuels, this will only get worse.”
To do its heat analysis, the team of volunteer international scientists compared daily temperatures around the globe in 2024 to the temperatures that would have been expected in a world without climate change. The results are not yet peer-reviewed, but researchers use peer-reviewed methods.
Some areas saw 150 days or more of extreme heat due to climate change.
“The poorest, least developed countries on the planet are the places that are experiencing even higher numbers,” said Kristina Dahl, vice president of climate science at Climate Central.
“People don’t have to die in heat waves. But if we can’t communicate convincingly, ‘but actually a lot of people are dying,’ it’s much harder to raise this awareness,” Otto said. “Heat waves are by far the deadliest extreme event, and they are the extreme events where climate change is a real game changer.”
This year was a warning that the planet is getting dangerously close to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warming limit compared to the pre-industrial average, according to the scientists. Earth is expected to soon edge past that threshold, although it’s not considered to have been breached until that warming is sustained over decades.
The researchers closely examined 29 extreme weather events this year that killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions, and found that 26 of them had clear links to climate change.
The El Niño weather pattern, which naturally warms the Pacific Ocean and changes weather around the world, made some of this weather more likely earlier in the year. But the researchers said most of their studies found that climate change played a bigger role than that phenomenon in fueling 2024’s events. Warm ocean waters and warmer air fueled more destructive storms, according to the researchers, while temperatures led to many record-breaking downpours.
Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Cape Cod who wasn’t involved in the research, said the science and findings were sound.
“Extreme weather will continue to become more frequent, intense, destructive, costly, and deadly, until we can lower the concentration of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere,” she said.
But the deaths and damages from extreme weather events aren’t inevitable, said Julie Arrighi, director of programmes at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and part of the research.
“Countries can reduce those impacts by preparing for climate change and adapting for climate change, and while the challenges faced by individual countries or systems or places vary around the world, we do see that every country has a role to play,” she said.
___
Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate solutions reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
A surprising study of temperature-related deaths in Mexico upends conventional thinking about what age group is hit hardest by heat. Researchers found at higher temperatures and humidity, the heat kills far more young people under 35 than those older than 50.
For decades, health and weather experts have warned that the elderly and the youngest children were most vulnerable in heat waves. But this study looking at all deaths in Mexico from 1998 to 2019 shows that when the combination of humidity and temperature reach uncomfortable levels, such as the mid to upper 80s Fahrenheit (around 30 degrees Celsius) and 50% relative humidity, there were nearly 32 temperature-related deaths of people 35 years old for every temperature-related death of someone 50 and older.
The study in Friday’s journal Science Advances shows an especially surprising spike of heat-related deaths in an age group thought to be young and robust: People between 18 and 35. That age group alone had nine times as many temperature-related deaths as those older than 50.
Study authors and outside experts are scrambling to figure out why. Demographics alone don’t explain why more young adult Mexicans are dying in high heat than their elders. Two theories: Outdoor workers who can’t escape the heat, and young people who don’t know their limits.
The trend is likely to widen as the world warms from human-caused climate change, according to computer simulations run by the study team.
“We found that younger people are especially vulnerable to humid heat,” study co-author Jeffrey Shrader, a climate economist at Columbia University, said. “As the climate warms, we’re really going to be shifting the burden of temperature-related mortality towards younger individuals and away from older individuals who tend to be more vulnerable to cold temperatures.”
Data from cold weather shows more than 300 deaths of Mexican residents 50 and older for every young person dying from cold temperatures, according to the study.
“People of all ages are increasingly at risk from the rising temperatures, and this study shows that those that we might have considered relatively safe from heat-related adverse health outcomes might not be so much so,” said Marina Romanello, executive director of the Lancet Countdown that monitors health effects of climate change. She was not part of the study team.
“Heat is a much more dangerous silent killer than most people acknowledge it to be, and that heat is increasingly putting our health and survival at risk,” Romanello said in an email.
Study authors decided to examine weather-related deaths in Mexico because that country not only has detailed mortality data, but it has a variety of different climates making it an ideal place to study in depth, Shrader said.
Researchers also want to figure out whether this is just a situation in Mexico or other warmer sections of the globe have similar spikes in young adult deaths in high heat and humidity.
Initially the team just wanted to look at deaths and what scientists call wet-bulb globe temperatures, but when they looked at age differences, they were surprised and looked in more detail, Shrader said. Wet-bulb temperature, which is intended to mirror how the body cools itself, is derived using a complicated measurement system that factors in humidity and solar radiation. A wet-bulb globe temperature of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) is thought to be the limit for human survivability. Most places don’t reach that level.
Researchers determined temperature-related mortality by complex statistical analysis that compares numerous factors in the number of deaths and removes everything they can except temperature fluctuations, said study co-author Andrew Wilson, a Columbia climate economics researcher.
Researchers also calculated the ideal temperature for when there are the fewest excess deaths at each age group. Younger adults’ sweet temperature spot is about nine degrees Fahrenheit (five degrees Celsius) cooler than it is for older people, Shrader and Wilson said.
Some outside health and climate experts were initially puzzled at the higher youth mortality seen in the study. Co-author Patrick Kinney, a professor of urban health and sustainability at Boston University, said it was likely the study included a higher proportion of outdoor workers exposed to heat than prior studies did.
Study co-author Tereza Cavazos, a climate scientist at the Ensenada Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education in Mexico, said she remembers her father’s generations taking siestas in the high heat of the day and that was healthy. That doesn’t happen so much now, she said.
“There is a lot of population that is vulnerable in the future. Not even in the future, right now,” Cavazos said. She mentioned three Mexican heat waves this year that hit in the middle of the country and kept the deadly heat going overnight so people had little relief. Usually cool nights allow a body to recover.
Younger people often have a sense of invulnerability to weather extremes and do things that increase their risk, such as play sports in high heat, Cavazos said.
“High humidity makes it a lot harder for the body to cool itself through sweating – which is how our body primarily stays cool,” said Dr. Renee Salas, an emergency medicine physician and climate change expert at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She was not part of the study team. “So someone young and healthy working outside in heat and high humidity can reach a point where the body can no longer cool itself safely – causing a deadly form of heat injury called heat stroke.”
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
BAKU, Azerbaijan — Even as Earth sets new heat records, humanity this year is pumping 330 million tons (300 million metric tons) more carbon dioxide into the air by burning fossil fuels than it did last year.
This year the world is on track to put 41.2 billion tons (37.4 billion metric tons) of the main heat-trapping gas into the atmosphere. It’s a 0.8% increase from 2023, according to Global Carbon Project, a group of scientists who track emissions. Several United Nations reports say the globe must cut emissions by 42% by 2030 to possibly limit warming to an internationally agreed-upon threshold.
This year’s pollution increase isn’t quite as large as last year’s 1.4% jump, scientists said while presenting the data at the United Nations climate talks in Azerbaijan.
If the world continues burning fossil fuels at today’s level, it has six years before passing 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, the limit agreed to at the 2015 climate talks in Paris, said study co-author Stephen Sitch. The Earth is already at 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahrenheit), according to the United Nations.
“We clearly are not doing enough on a global scale to reduce emissions. It’s as simple as that,” said study co-author Mike O’Sullivan, a University of Exeter climate scientist. “We need to massively increase ambition and actually just think outside the box of how we can change things, not be so tied to fossil fuel interests.”
Scientists used reported emissions from rich countries and oil industry data, O’Sullivan said. The 2024 figure includes projections for the last couple months or so. The Global Carbon Project team released figures for the four biggest carbon emitters — China, the United States, India and Europe. It also produced more detailed and final figures for about 200 countries for 2023.
The continued rise in carbon emissions is mostly from the developing world and China. Many analysts had been hoping that China — by far the world’s biggest annual carbon polluting nation with 32% of the emissions — would have peaked its carbon dioxide emissions by now. Instead China’s emissions rose 0.2% from 2023, with coal pollution up 0.3%, Global Carbon Project calculated. But it could drop to zero in the next two months and is “basically flat,” O’Sullivan said.
That’s nothing close to the increase in India, which at 8% of the globe’s carbon pollution is third-largest carbon emitter. India’s carbon pollution jumped 4.6% in 2024, the scientists said.
Carbon emissions dropped in both the United States and the European Union. They fell 0.6% in the U.S. mostly from reduced coal, oil and cement use. The U.S. was responsible for 13% of the globe’s carbon dioxide in 2024. Historically, it’s responsible for 21% of the world’s emissions since 1950, a figure that matters since the gas persists in the atmosphere for centuries.
Twenty-two nations have shown steady decreases in emissions, O’Sullivan said, singling out the United States as one of those. The biggest emission drops from 2014 to 2023 were in the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
Europe, which accounts for 7% of the world’s carbon pollution, saw its carbon dioxide output drop 3.8% from last year — driven by a big cut in coal emissions.
Global carbon emissions are well more than double what they were 50 years ago and 50% than they were in 1999. Emissions have gone up about 6% in the past decade.
“This is a needed reminder of the urgency with which we need to address the cause of the climate crisis,” said PowerShift Africa founder Mohamed Adow, who wasn’t part of the study. “The problem is the fossil fuel industry is kicking and screaming for us to slow down and to keep them in business for longer. That’s why they poured money into Donald Trump’s election campaign.”
Carbon dioxide from humanity’s burning of coal, oil and natural gas amounts to 2.6 million pounds (nearly 1.2 million kilograms) of the heat-trapping gas every second.
Total carbon emissions — which include fossil fuel pollution and land use changes such as deforestation — are basically flat because land emissions are declining, the scientists said. That’s an important and encouraging milestone amid bad news, said University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Talent will only take you far enough without a sickening work ethic. Through the vivid world of sports, there have been several athletes with infinite potential who have waned due to this. At the same time, there are the improbable ones, those who rise through consistency. Such is the case of Stephen Curry. His love for shooting the ball as a little kid, going to practice with his father Dell Curry. Now, even at the pinnacle of basketball and among the most celebrated, his life remains consistent.
When speaking of his shooting, the Chef often underscores the role of “balance”. With everything aligned, it doesn’t matter where or how he shoots, “I feel like I’m never going to miss”. The confidence stems from his strenuous preparations, a routine that had Eric Spoelstra dumbfounded in Paris.
“If you label him as the best shooter of all time, that there has to be some level of unreasonable OCD level of work. And I can say that firsthand, even out of his, at that age, his routine after practice, every single day, was so consistent,”the Heat coach detailed on the Five on The Floor podcast.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
via Reuters
Paris 2024 Olympics – Basketball – Men’s Gold Medal Game – France vs United States – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – August 10, 2024. Stephen Curry of United States reacts during the gold medal game. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Curry is now 36 years old, still that his regime remains the same. And it’s meticulous. One of the rules that he seems to follow is to never leave on a miss. Additionally, if he can’t finish the workout in the model way, he isn’t finished. “And then if he didn’t finish it the way he wanted to, it would be another, start over, it would be another 20 minutes” Spo revealed.
These exact preparations ultimately helped him on the biggest of stages.
How Stephen Curry used consistency to win over Paris
Through his illustrious career, the Baby Face Assassin never had the chance to play in the Olympics until he joined the ‘Avengers’. The riveting three-point shooter though saw far from an ideal start. In the first four games, he shot only 25% from three and couldn’t click into his dangerous rhythm.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Still, nobody seemed worried when it came to his slump. Curry himself knew it was only a matter of time before the “floodgates open”. The four-time champion continued his routine. The same pregame routine and the same tendency to “shoot shots you think you can make”. In the case of Stephen Curry, that spectrum is vast.
And soon, he let the world know just why he is revered as the most feared presence on the court.
Against Serbia in the semifinals, the entire Team USA collapsed for three quarters. The Nikola Jokic-led Serbs on the contrary couldn’t miss. The man who kept the USA within hitting range to eventually turn their fortunes? Stephen Curry. He made 9 threes en route to his game-high 36 points to help the star-studded contingent see a gold medal game.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
There in the final moments, reality struck. LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two of the most decorated scorers in NBA history were on the floor. Yet, the double team by France was solely focused on shutting down Curry. His final nail in the coffin came over exactly two people, shooting what seemed to be a hail mary while off balance.
It was followed by the iconic ‘night night’ to secure the ultimate prize for Team USA. Without his persistence, none of it would have been possible. And it goes back to his regular, monotonous routine that helped his become the most lethal shooter in NBA history.
Talent will only take you far enough without a sickening work ethic. Through the vivid world of sports, there have been several athletes with infinite potential who have waned due to this. At the same time, there are the improbable ones, those who rise through consistency. Such is the case of Stephen Curry. His love for shooting the ball as a little kid, going to practice with his father Dell Curry. Now, even at the pinnacle of basketball and among the most celebrated, his life remains consistent.
When speaking of his shooting, the Chef often underscores the role of “balance”. With everything aligned, it doesn’t matter where or how he shoots, “I feel like I’m never going to miss”. The confidence stems from his strenuous preparations, a routine that had Eric Spoelstra dumbfounded in Paris.
“If you label him as the best shooter of all time, that there has to be some level of unreasonable OCD level of work. And I can say that firsthand, even out of his, at that age, his routine after practice, every single day, was so consistent,”the Heat coach detailed on the Five on The Floor podcast.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
via Reuters
Paris 2024 Olympics – Basketball – Men’s Gold Medal Game – France vs United States – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – August 10, 2024. Stephen Curry of United States reacts during the gold medal game. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Curry is now 36 years old, still that his regime remains the same. And it’s meticulous. One of the rules that he seems to follow is to never leave on a miss. Additionally, if he can’t finish the workout in the model way, he isn’t finished. “And then if he didn’t finish it the way he wanted to, it would be another, start over, it would be another 20 minutes” Spo revealed.
These exact preparations ultimately helped him on the biggest of stages.
How Stephen Curry used consistency to win over Paris
Through his illustrious career, the Baby Face Assassin never had the chance to play in the Olympics until he joined the ‘Avengers’. The riveting three-point shooter though saw far from an ideal start. In the first four games, he shot only 25% from three and couldn’t click into his dangerous rhythm.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Still, nobody seemed worried when it came to his slump. Curry himself knew it was only a matter of time before the “floodgates open”. The four-time champion continued his routine. The same pregame routine and the same tendency to “shoot shots you think you can make”. In the case of Stephen Curry, that spectrum is vast.
And soon, he let the world know just why he is revered as the most feared presence on the court.
Against Serbia in the semifinals, the entire Team USA collapsed for three quarters. The Nikola Jokic-led Serbs on the contrary couldn’t miss. The man who kept the USA within hitting range to eventually turn their fortunes? Stephen Curry. He made 9 threes en route to his game-high 36 points to help the star-studded contingent see a gold medal game.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
There in the final moments, reality struck. LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two of the most decorated scorers in NBA history were on the floor. Yet, the double team by France was solely focused on shutting down Curry. His final nail in the coffin came over exactly two people, shooting what seemed to be a hail mary while off balance.
It was followed by the iconic ‘night night’ to secure the ultimate prize for Team USA. Without his persistence, none of it would have been possible. And it goes back to his regular, monotonous routine that helped his become the most lethal shooter in NBA history.
Talent will only take you far enough without a sickening work ethic. Through the vivid world of sports, there have been several athletes with infinite potential who have waned due to this. At the same time, there are the improbable ones, those who rise through consistency. Such is the case of Stephen Curry. His love for shooting the ball as a little kid, going to practice with his father Dell Curry. Now, even at the pinnacle of basketball and among the most celebrated, his life remains consistent.
When speaking of his shooting, the Chef often underscores the role of “balance”. With everything aligned, it doesn’t matter where or how he shoots, “I feel like I’m never going to miss”. The confidence stems from his strenuous preparations, a routine that had Eric Spoelstra dumbfounded in Paris.
“If you label him as the best shooter of all time, that there has to be some level of unreasonable OCD level of work. And I can say that firsthand, even out of his, at that age, his routine after practice, every single day, was so consistent,”the Heat coach detailed on the Five on The Floor podcast.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
via Reuters
Paris 2024 Olympics – Basketball – Men’s Gold Medal Game – France vs United States – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – August 10, 2024. Stephen Curry of United States reacts during the gold medal game. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Curry is now 36 years old, still that his regime remains the same. And it’s meticulous. One of the rules that he seems to follow is to never leave on a miss. Additionally, if he can’t finish the workout in the model way, he isn’t finished. “And then if he didn’t finish it the way he wanted to, it would be another, start over, it would be another 20 minutes” Spo revealed.
These exact preparations ultimately helped him on the biggest of stages.
How Stephen Curry used consistency to win over Paris
Through his illustrious career, the Baby Face Assassin never had the chance to play in the Olympics until he joined the ‘Avengers’. The riveting three-point shooter though saw far from an ideal start. In the first four games, he shot only 25% from three and couldn’t click into his dangerous rhythm.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Still, nobody seemed worried when it came to his slump. Curry himself knew it was only a matter of time before the “floodgates open”. The four-time champion continued his routine. The same pregame routine and the same tendency to “shoot shots you think you can make”. In the case of Stephen Curry, that spectrum is vast.
And soon, he let the world know just why he is revered as the most feared presence on the court.
Against Serbia in the semifinals, the entire Team USA collapsed for three quarters. The Nikola Jokic-led Serbs on the contrary couldn’t miss. The man who kept the USA within hitting range to eventually turn their fortunes? Stephen Curry. He made 9 threes en route to his game-high 36 points to help the star-studded contingent see a gold medal game.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
There in the final moments, reality struck. LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two of the most decorated scorers in NBA history were on the floor. Yet, the double team by France was solely focused on shutting down Curry. His final nail in the coffin came over exactly two people, shooting what seemed to be a hail mary while off balance.
It was followed by the iconic ‘night night’ to secure the ultimate prize for Team USA. Without his persistence, none of it would have been possible. And it goes back to his regular, monotonous routine that helped his become the most lethal shooter in NBA history.
Talent will only take you far enough without a sickening work ethic. Through the vivid world of sports, there have been several athletes with infinite potential who have waned due to this. At the same time, there are the improbable ones, those who rise through consistency. Such is the case of Stephen Curry. His love for shooting the ball as a little kid, going to practice with his father Dell Curry. Now, even at the pinnacle of basketball and among the most celebrated, his life remains consistent.
When speaking of his shooting, the Chef often underscores the role of “balance”. With everything aligned, it doesn’t matter where or how he shoots, “I feel like I’m never going to miss”. The confidence stems from his strenuous preparations, a routine that had Eric Spoelstra dumbfounded in Paris.
“If you label him as the best shooter of all time, that there has to be some level of unreasonable OCD level of work. And I can say that firsthand, even out of his, at that age, his routine after practice, every single day, was so consistent,”the Heat coach detailed on the Five on The Floor podcast.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
via Reuters
Paris 2024 Olympics – Basketball – Men’s Gold Medal Game – France vs United States – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – August 10, 2024. Stephen Curry of United States reacts during the gold medal game. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Curry is now 36 years old, still that his regime remains the same. And it’s meticulous. One of the rules that he seems to follow is to never leave on a miss. Additionally, if he can’t finish the workout in the model way, he isn’t finished. “And then if he didn’t finish it the way he wanted to, it would be another, start over, it would be another 20 minutes” Spo revealed.
These exact preparations ultimately helped him on the biggest of stages.
How Stephen Curry used consistency to win over Paris
Through his illustrious career, the Baby Face Assassin never had the chance to play in the Olympics until he joined the ‘Avengers’. The riveting three-point shooter though saw far from an ideal start. In the first four games, he shot only 25% from three and couldn’t click into his dangerous rhythm.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Still, nobody seemed worried when it came to his slump. Curry himself knew it was only a matter of time before the “floodgates open”. The four-time champion continued his routine. The same pregame routine and the same tendency to “shoot shots you think you can make”. In the case of Stephen Curry, that spectrum is vast.
And soon, he let the world know just why he is revered as the most feared presence on the court.
Against Serbia in the semifinals, the entire Team USA collapsed for three quarters. The Nikola Jokic-led Serbs on the contrary couldn’t miss. The man who kept the USA within hitting range to eventually turn their fortunes? Stephen Curry. He made 9 threes en route to his game-high 36 points to help the star-studded contingent see a gold medal game.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
There in the final moments, reality struck. LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two of the most decorated scorers in NBA history were on the floor. Yet, the double team by France was solely focused on shutting down Curry. His final nail in the coffin came over exactly two people, shooting what seemed to be a hail mary while off balance.
It was followed by the iconic ‘night night’ to secure the ultimate prize for Team USA. Without his persistence, none of it would have been possible. And it goes back to his regular, monotonous routine that helped his become the most lethal shooter in NBA history.
Talent will only take you far enough without a sickening work ethic. Through the vivid world of sports, there have been several athletes with infinite potential who have waned due to this. At the same time, there are the improbable ones, those who rise through consistency. Such is the case of Stephen Curry. His love for shooting the ball as a little kid, going to practice with his father Dell Curry. Now, even at the pinnacle of basketball and among the most celebrated, his life remains consistent.
When speaking of his shooting, the Chef often underscores the role of “balance”. With everything aligned, it doesn’t matter where or how he shoots, “I feel like I’m never going to miss”. The confidence stems from his strenuous preparations, a routine that had Eric Spoelstra dumbfounded in Paris.
“If you label him as the best shooter of all time, that there has to be some level of unreasonable OCD level of work. And I can say that firsthand, even out of his, at that age, his routine after practice, every single day, was so consistent,”the Heat coach detailed on the Five on The Floor podcast.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
via Reuters
Paris 2024 Olympics – Basketball – Men’s Gold Medal Game – France vs United States – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – August 10, 2024. Stephen Curry of United States reacts during the gold medal game. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Curry is now 36 years old, still that his regime remains the same. And it’s meticulous. One of the rules that he seems to follow is to never leave on a miss. Additionally, if he can’t finish the workout in the model way, he isn’t finished. “And then if he didn’t finish it the way he wanted to, it would be another, start over, it would be another 20 minutes” Spo revealed.
These exact preparations ultimately helped him on the biggest of stages.
How Stephen Curry used consistency to win over Paris
Through his illustrious career, the Baby Face Assassin never had the chance to play in the Olympics until he joined the ‘Avengers’. The riveting three-point shooter though saw far from an ideal start. In the first four games, he shot only 25% from three and couldn’t click into his dangerous rhythm.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Still, nobody seemed worried when it came to his slump. Curry himself knew it was only a matter of time before the “floodgates open”. The four-time champion continued his routine. The same pregame routine and the same tendency to “shoot shots you think you can make”. In the case of Stephen Curry, that spectrum is vast.
And soon, he let the world know just why he is revered as the most feared presence on the court.
Against Serbia in the semifinals, the entire Team USA collapsed for three quarters. The Nikola Jokic-led Serbs on the contrary couldn’t miss. The man who kept the USA within hitting range to eventually turn their fortunes? Stephen Curry. He made 9 threes en route to his game-high 36 points to help the star-studded contingent see a gold medal game.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
There in the final moments, reality struck. LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two of the most decorated scorers in NBA history were on the floor. Yet, the double team by France was solely focused on shutting down Curry. His final nail in the coffin came over exactly two people, shooting what seemed to be a hail mary while off balance.
It was followed by the iconic ‘night night’ to secure the ultimate prize for Team USA. Without his persistence, none of it would have been possible. And it goes back to his regular, monotonous routine that helped his become the most lethal shooter in NBA history.
On the day that Jayvion Taylor collapsed during an afternoon football practice in Hopewell, Virginia, it wasnearly 90 degrees. By the heat index, it felt much hotter.
Taylor, 15, had just taken a water break after about 40 minutes of light drills that followed “standard safety protocols,” according to Hopewell City Public Schools. Coaches surrounded the wide receiver, who was sweating profusely and unresponsive, tried to revive him and doused him with cold water, a caller told 911.
“They’re still thinking he’s got a heat stroke,” the caller said.
Taylor died shortly after EMS personnel got him to a local hospital.
His official cause of death has not yet been released, but his mother, believes the heat had something to do with it. Alicia Trotter, a nurse, expressed concern that there was no athletic trainer present, a professional specially trained to follow the best practices in sports medicine and save lives when an emergency occurs.
Though Trotter said the team had been training since June, the athletic trainer’s contract was not set to begin until August 12, according to the school district, which called the death a tragic accident and said the staff who were there acted appropriately.
“You would think that if you’re not gonna have a trainer, that these coaches know what to do if something was to happen,” Trotter said. “But I really don’t know. I just know I sent him to school and he didn’t come back home.”
Taylor is one of at least eight young student athletes who died suddenly since Aug. 5 after training outdoors in blazing summer heat. Authorities have not determined official causes for all of them, but the deaths have renewed concerns about students practicing sports in sweltering conditions.
Heat stroke is one of the leading causes of death among high school athletes. Global temperatures are continuing to rise, and heat deaths in the United States already have reached record highs.
Experts say simple steps can be taken to save students’ lives, including modifying practices based on temperature and requiring sideline cooling equipment. They say state and school officials need to do more to enforce these best practices, particularly during the hottest part of the year.
It is “crushing” every time a student athlete dies of heatstroke because these life-saving policies are proven to be incredibly effective, said Rebecca Stearns, an athletic trainer and chief operating officer at the Korey Stringer Institute, a University of Connecticut nonprofit dedicated to preventing sudden death in sports.
“It is tough because you know the next one’s coming,” she said. “It’s really sad.”
‘Heatstroke is 100% preventable’ with simple policies
The week after Taylor’s death on Aug. 5, 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins collapsed while warming up during an afternoon football practice at New Brockton High School, in Coffee County, Alabama. Temperatures in the area hit 98 degrees that day.
Wilkins’ mother, Regena Johnson-Adams, rushed first to the field and then to the emergency room to see her son, who she remembers as a “people person” who loved learning, football and basketball. He had ice packs on his body and a medical device on his chest. He later died in the hospital.
“It’s a tragic loss,” an emotional Johnson-Adams told USA TODAY. “I hate that I lost my son, and I’m just waiting. I’m just ready for some answers.”
As she awaits word on his official cause of death, Johnson-Adams said she believes more can be done to protect student athletes.
“I would say [there] needs to be some more safety precautions,” she said. “And if any of it was heat related, maybe we need to try to see about practicing early, during the morning time when it’s cool.”
Research shows that implementing a number of low-cost, gold standard policies can dramatically reduce the number of high school athletes suffering heat illnesses, Stearns said.
She said teams should slowly ramp up the duration and intensity of initial practices to allow returning athletes to adjust to training in the heat and modify further based on the “wet bulb globe temperature,” a measurement which takes into account air temperature, humidity and radiant heat from the playing field.
If a player does overheat, schools should have cold water immersion tubs on site to start cooling them before paramedics transport them to the hospital, she said. Having an athletic trainer and a venue-specific emergency action plan are also crucial components to ensure athlete safety.
“Any kind of heat illness or heatstroke is 100% preventable,” said Jordan Clark, a climatologist and a senior policy associate for the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University. “These really robust policies and really having a lot of vigilance truly would prevent it.”
No state in the country requires all the best practices for student athlete safety identified by the Korey Stringer Institute, but Georgia, Louisiana, New Hampshire and New Jersey ranked highest for their heat safety policies, according to the institute’s 2023 analysis. California, Colorado, Maine and Vermont ranked lowest.
State high school sports associations are the primary governing body tasked with implementing these rules, but their power can be limited and enforcement mechanisms nonexistent.
In Virginia, where Taylor died, the Virginia High School League offers guidelines around heat safety including monitoring the wet bulb globe temperature and modifying practices early in the season, but following them is not required, according to Billy Haun, the league’s executive director.
Kelly Cobb, the superintendent of Coffee County Schools in Alabama, declined to answer specific questions about what happened to Wilkins and whether his high school followed policy that day. But she said the school district follows the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s exertional heat illness policy, which includes many of the gold standard practices.
“It’s really hard to make sure that all the participating schools in a given association and all sports are correctly measuring, like the wet bulb globe temperature for example, and they’re measuring it every time,” said Clark, of Duke University. “It’s very hard to enforce those rules.”
August ‘the deadliest month’ for high school athletes
Players who’ve been off for a few months and weather conditions in July and August, the two hottest months of the year, make for a dangerous combination, said Madeleine Orr, an associate professor in sport ecology at the University of Toronto in Ontario and author of “Warming Up: How Climate Change is Changing Sport.”
At least 77 heat-related deaths have been reported among athletes since 2000, with 65 of those among teenagers, according to data compiled by the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The true toll is likely much higher, experts say, since officials signing a death certificate may not be aware of the circumstances that led to the hospitalization or death, and in order to attribute a death to exertional heat stroke, Orr said someone must take an internal body temperature right away.
“If coaches don’t know to check, by the time the athlete gets to the hospital the illness might be attributed to something else,” she said.
Three of the student deaths this summer have been attributed to sudden cardiac arrest, but studies have previously linked heat as a factor in some cardiac deaths. To prevent sudden cardiac death in athletes, the Korey Stringer Institute recommends avoiding practice in extreme heat or cold.
“August is the deadliest month for high school athletes,” Orr told USA TODAY. “Temperatures are higher and the athletes aren’t yet acclimatized to playing in tough conditions. It’s when the athletes are the least ready and it’s the hottest time.”
On top of the weather, the period before the school year begins is like “the wild wild west, meaning we don’t have a lot as much supervision, there are less rules,” said Douglas Casa, CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute.
In Kansas, following a heat acclimatization plan and having an emergency action plan are mandatory during the fall sports season, according to Jeremy Holaday, assistant executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. But the rules don’t necessarily apply in the summer, a period when many teams hold preseason training sessions.
“We don’t govern the summer,” Holaday said.
Just days before the fall season began on Aug. 19, Ovet Gomez-Regalado, a 15-year-old football player at Shawnee Mission High School in Shawnee, Kansas died after collapsing following an afternoon training session, suffering a “medical emergency.” That morning, the weather service had issued a heat advisory for the area, warning heat index values could reach 106 and to stay indoors.
David Smith, a spokesperson for the Shawnee Mission School District, said the preseason conditioning workout was voluntary and Gomez-Regalado had lifted weights inside before heading outside to run.
“I think it’s premature to say that this was heat related,” Smith said, adding that Gomez-Regalado was outside for less than 10 minutes.
Gomez-Regalado’s family could not be reached for comment.
Smith said the school had a cold water immersion tub on site and the team was “well within” restrictions placed on activities based on wet bulb temperatures. He could not confirm what the wet bulb globe temperature was that day and declined to explain how Gomez-Regalado was treated or whether he was immersed in the cold-water tub.
Holaday, of the state’s high school activities association said such safeguards are recommended but not required, in part due to the cost.
Stearns, of the Korey Stringer Institute, said cost should not be an issue. A 150-gallon cold tub is about $200 and a wet bulb globe temperature monitor ranges from $100-$750.
“Everything that goes into having a sports program has a cost,” she said. “And so we look at the relative cost of these items that we talk about that can save a life, it is dwarfed in contrast to the cost of having an athletics program.”
Deaths spur states to change athlete heat policies
More than a dozen states have overhauled their heat policies in recent years, which Casa called “massive progress.” He said state legislatures are sometimes prompted to create stricter rules after high profile deaths.
In Maryland, a law went into effect in July requiring colleges and universities to develop venue-specific heat illness emergency action plans that include using cold-water immersion equipment and automatic external defibrillators. The bill is named after Jordan McNair, who died in 2018 after suffering heat stroke during a workout on the University of Maryland’s football field. A law implementing similar requirements for middle and high schools named after late high school football player Elijah Gorham was signed by then-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in 2022.
Despite increased protections, deaths can still occur. Just after 9 a.m. on Aug. 14, Leslie Noble experienced a medical emergency on the football field at Franklin High School in Reisertown, Maryland, where the temperature that day reached 82 degrees and conditions were hazy from Canadian wildfire smoke.
Police dispatchers said that the initial 911 call indicated Noble had suffered heat stroke, the Baltimore Sun reported. The Baltimore County 911 Center denied a records request from USA TODAY, citing an “open and ongoing law enforcement investigation.” Noble’s family did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.
Charles Herndon, a spokesperson for Baltimore County Public Schools, declined to answer specific questions about what happened to Noble, but said the district has a heat acclimatization policy and guidelines restricting activities based on the heat index and wet bulb globe temperature.
“The only things we can add were that there was an athletic trainer present at the time and that all schools do have an emergency/safety plan,” Herndon said.
Casa said even more dramatic changes may need to be made to high school sports, particularly as global temperatures continue to rise.
Last year was the hottest year in recorded history, and the sweltering temperatures have stoked health and safety concerns for athletes, coaches and spectators across the athletic spectrum, from Olympians to high school and youth sports leagues.
“It’s not gonna ever get better in terms of the environmental conditions we need to consider,” Casa said. “So, I’m a big believer that in 20 years, high school football will be a spring sport and not a fall sport.”
Until such major changes occur, student athletes will keep dying in the heat, Stearns said.
“It’s really dark to say, but we know another death is going to happen because we know every high school athletes’ not going to have access to these lifesaving policies and equipment.”
Contributing: Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY; Bill Atkinson, Petersburg Progress-Index; Stephanie Kuzydym, Louisville Courier Journal
The temperatures are still high and we are taking all necessary steps to beat the heat. But we need to step out for shopping, holidays, work, or running daily errands, there is no way we can avoid the heat. The best bet is to prepare your body for the onslaught with foods that will keep you energized, and hydrated, and add nutrients that protect. Prioritize your energy levels by fueling your body with nutrient-rich foods that provide sustained vitality and stamina. I recommend that you take one of these before stepping out of your house to stay safe.
Also Read: Summer Diet Tips: This ‘Sattu Ka Sharbat’ Pre-Mix Can Make Your Breakfast Quick, Easy And Protein-Rich
Here Are 5 Foods And Drinks You Must Have To Beat The Heat:
1. Water:
60% of our body is made up of water. In summer, we lose a lot of moisture and staying hydrated is of prime importance to stay energized. Drink at least 35ml/kg body weight. If you remain in an air-conditioned environment, your thirst trigger may not alert you so drink adequately. Carry a bottle of clean drinking water with you always. Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up, and have another before stepping out.
2. Electrolyte balance:
Good hydration means fluids plus electrolytes. When we consume just water we end up diluting our electrolyte balance. Hydrate with fresh lemon water with a pinch of salt, it adds both sodium and potassium, keeping you energized. Fresh coconut water also provides all electrolytes along with other essential minerals. Lassi adds calcium which helps prevent muscle cramps. Our traditional drinks like thandai, sattu, khus, bael sherbet, jaljeera are all good for hydration and also for a healthy digestion
3. Fruit Hydration:
Summer fruits are laden with moisture. You can eat hydration. Watermelon is not only delicious but also incredibly hydrating. With its high water content, Additionally, watermelon contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may help protect the skin from sun damage. Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, which protect the skin and add a boost to our immunity. Mangoes rich in Vitamin C and beta carotene make a good choice for immunity and antioxidant boost.
Also Read: 8 Most Hydrating Drinks Besides Water
Summer fruits are hydrating. Photo Credit: Instagram/aliceveim
4. Summer Veggies to load up on:
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene, which can help reduce sun sensitivity and protect the skin from UV damage. Including tomatoes in your diet, whether fresh or cooked, can provide your skin with an added layer of defence against the sun’s harmful effects. Cucumbers are cool, loaded with moisture and fibre, and low in calories they add a perfect crunch to your summer salad. Onions are said to cool the body, add them to your salad.
5. Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds are not just for winter, they are nutrient-rich ensuring faster recovery from fatigue, they are easy to digest, and make great snacks to keep up the energy levels. Chia seeds added to drinks help keep the digestion in shape. Soaked raisins are a good energy boost to start the day with. Almonds can be soaked and used as sherbets, added to milk or just munched to stay energized. Pumpkin seeds are great along with salads, they are known to enhance gut health.
Remember to stay hydrated, enjoy a balanced diet, and listen to your body’s needs for optimal summer wellness.
