As of July 2, 2026, Maricopa County had confirmed 16 heat-related deaths for the year. That is 13 more than at the same point last year. Another 192 deaths were under investigation.
County officials say the reason is timing. The heat arrived early, and some confirmed deaths happened as far back as March. The National Weather Service recorded this spring as Phoenix’s hottest ever. The county’s heat season does not end until September 30.
Here is the short version of what to do.
Quick Answer
Drink water regularly even when you are not thirsty. Use air conditioning during peak heat, because fans alone are not enough once temperatures pass 95 degrees. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Check on older adults living alone daily. Seek medical care right away for confusion, cramps, vomiting or a rapid heart rate.
The checklist
This is Maricopa County’s public health guidance, in plain order. It takes about five minutes to run through for yourself or for someone you are looking after.
- Drink water on a schedule, not on thirst. Thirst is a late signal and it gets less reliable with age.
- Replace electrolytes. If there has been sweating from activity or sun exposure, water alone does not replace what was lost. Snacks and drinks that restore salts and minerals help.
- Dress for it. Lightweight, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Get properly cool. Use air conditioning wherever possible. Above 95 degrees, fans on their own are not enough.
- Check on people. Older adults, neighbors and anyone living alone, and especially anyone who has lost power or air conditioning.
- Know the warning signs. Muscle cramps, headache, vomiting, confusion, a lack of sweating or a rapid heart rate all mean get medical care now.
- Never leave anyone in a parked car. Not children, not pets, not adults, not for a minute.
Why a fan stops working
This is the item on the list that costs people the most, because a fan feels like it is doing something.
Maricopa County draws the line at 95 degrees. Above that, a fan alone will not keep a person safe. Federal preparedness guidance makes the same point in different words: a fan creates airflow and a false sense of comfort, but it does not lower body temperature or prevent heat-related illness.
So a fan is not a cooling plan. It is a comfort item that sits on top of a cooling plan. If the only thing cooling a room is a fan and it is above 95 outside, the honest answer is that the room is not cooled and the person needs to be somewhere else.
Call 911 For These
Confusion, a lack of sweating, or a rapid heart rate in someone who has been in the heat can indicate heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and it does not resolve on its own. Call 911. Do not wait to see whether the person feels better after resting.
If you are the one checking in
County communications manager Sonia Singh put the ask simply this month: check on friends, check on neighbors, and pay particular attention to older adults living alone. Confirm that their air conditioning is working, that it is on, and that it is turned down cool enough.
Three things are worth adding to that call.
- Ask about medications. County officials have specifically advised people to find out whether their own prescriptions can contribute to heat stress. Many common ones do. A pharmacist can answer this in five minutes for a specific list.
- Ask for numbers, not reassurance. “What is the thermostat set to?” gets you information. “Are you okay?” gets you the answer everyone gives.
- Listen for confusion. If the conversation is not tracking, that is not a communication problem. It is a symptom, and it needs medical care rather than another phone call.
If you are the family member doing the checking, the Medical Alert Connect app puts system status and alerts on your phone, so that a quiet day gets confirmed rather than assumed.
Where to find somewhere cool
Most areas that get serious heat run some form of seasonal relief network. Maricopa County’s opened on May 1 and includes hydration stations, cooling centers and respite centers, with every location mapped.
If you are somewhere else, dialing 211 connects you to an operator who can point you to the nearest help. It is free, it works in most of the country, and it is faster than searching.
What a medical alert device does and does not do here
It does not prevent heat illness. Nothing worn on the wrist or around the neck does, and anyone telling you otherwise is selling badly.
What it changes is the gap. Heat illness often starts with confusion, and a person who is confused is not reliably going to pick up a phone and explain the problem to somebody. A help button takes one press. Fall detection does not need even that. In heat, the time between something going wrong and somebody knowing is most of the risk, and shortening that interval is the entire job.
The Home System covers the house and the area around it. The Mobile System uses GPS, so help can find someone who went out for the mail on the wrong afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
What are the heat safety tips for seniors?
Drink water on a schedule rather than waiting for thirst, replace electrolytes after sweating, wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, use air conditioning during peak heat, check on older adults living alone, know the warning signs of heat illness, and never leave anyone in a parked car.
Is a fan enough to keep a senior cool?
No. Maricopa County public health guidance states that once temperatures exceed 95 degrees, fans alone are not enough. Federal preparedness guidance adds that a fan creates airflow and a sense of comfort but does not lower body temperature. Air conditioning or a cooling center is needed.
What are the warning signs of heat illness in older adults?
Muscle cramps, headache, vomiting, confusion, a lack of sweating and a rapid heart rate. All of these should prompt medical care right away. Confusion, a lack of sweating and a rapid heart rate point toward heat stroke, which is a medical emergency requiring a 911 call.
How many heat deaths has Maricopa County had in 2026?
As of July 2, 2026, the county had confirmed 16 heat-related deaths, which was 13 more than at the same point in 2025, with a further 192 deaths under investigation. The first confirmed death of the season was announced on April 10 and was an older adult male.
Can medications make heat riskier for seniors?
Yes. County health officials have urged people to learn whether their own prescriptions contribute to heat stress, because many commonly prescribed medications affect how the body regulates temperature and fluid. A pharmacist or the prescribing clinician can review a specific medication list.
Where can seniors go to cool off?
Many counties operate seasonal cooling centers, hydration stations and respite sites. Maricopa County maps its network at maricopa.gov/heat. Anywhere in most of the United States, dialing 211 connects you to an operator who can direct you to the nearest option.
What temperature is dangerous for older adults?
There is no single threshold, because risk depends on humidity, health conditions, medications and how long the exposure lasts. As a practical marker, Maricopa County identifies 95 degrees as the point at which fans stop being sufficient on their own.
Does a medical alert system help in a heat emergency?
It does not prevent heat illness. What it does is shorten the time between an emergency starting and someone responding, which matters because heat illness often begins with confusion and a confused person may not call for help on their own.
