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Extreme heat is one of the deadliest forms of natural disaster in the United States, resulting in hundreds of deaths each year.

In Iowa, it leads to hundreds of emergency room visits annually. Cody Smith, director of climate initiatives at the Iowa Environmental Council, said between 2003 and 2023, an average of 875 Iowans have gone to the emergency room each year for heat-related illnesses.

“Since the end of 2015, every year has been above that statewide average, sometimes by as many as 306 visits per year, as seen in 2018,” Smith said.

Researchers at Iowa State University have been exploring ways to prevent heat-related illness during heat waves.

Their latest work includes development of

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