Temperature kills more people in the U.S. each year than all other natural events combined, according to a National Center for Health Statistics report.Their findings showed temperature-related deaths make up 75 percent of all natural-event deaths in the U.S.Their definition of natural-event deaths includes fatalities from acts of nature such as storms, earthquakes, lightning, temperature or any other naturally occurring environmental disturbance. Translating their statistics shows temperature-related deaths occurring just under six times as often as deaths because of any type of storm, including hurricanes and tornados.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report confirmed these findings, stating 274 heat-related deaths occur each year in the U.S.But Jay Grymes, WAFB’s chief meteorologist, said Louisiana has a surprisingly low heat-related death statistic compared to states farther north.”We’re better accustomed to handling the heat,” Grymes said. “In Northern cities, you tend to see greater fatalities during heat waves because they’re not adapted to the temperatures.”Louisiana residents do not need to fear high, heat-wave temperatures during the day, Grymes said. Their main risks are prolonged nights when temperatures don’t drop below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.”The current economic situation makes it very dangerous,” Grymes said.  “There are probably going to be more people that put themselves under greater stress because they either don’t have access to or can’t afford air conditioning.”Extreme heat also causes heat illnesses such as heat stress and heat stroke, according to the CDC.University students need to be aware of heat illness because they are at risk from prolonged sun exposure, Grymes said.”Standing in direct sunlight can add 10 to 15 degrees of temperature stress above the thermometer reading to your body,” Grymes said.The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration warns that heat stress symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue and cramps often occur suddenly.OSHA recommends moving anyone suffering from heat stress to a cool area and removing all of that person’s outer clothes.Alcohol also increases the chance of heat stress because it contributes to dehydration, Grymes said.—-Contact Peter Hubbs at [email protected]