Heat deaths could surge in the state as energy poverty linked to Trump’s energy and trade policies burns

It was the hottest day of the year so far when the central air conditioning started blowing hot air in the mobile home where Richard Chamblee lived in Bullhead City, Arizona, with his wife, children, and half a dozen cats and dogs.

It was only mid-June but the heat was insufferable, particularly for Chamblee, who was clinically obese and bed-bound in the living room as the temperature hit 115F (46C) in the desert city – situated 100 miles (160km) south of Las Vegas on the banks of the Colorado River.

The family could not afford to immediately replace or repair the AC system, so instead they bought a window unit and installed it next to Chamblee’s bed. They positioned fans, ice packs and cold drinks close by in an effort to keep Chamblee cool and hydrated, checking in on him every couple of hours.

But the mobile home is old, open-plan and poorly insulated. Despite their efforts, the temperature hovered close to 100F in the house, according to Chamblee’s son John.

Chamblee overheated and struggled to breathe. His core temperature measured 108F when he was rushed to the emergency room, but doctors were unable to cool him down, according to the death report obtained by the Guardian using the Freedom of Information Act (Foia). Chamblee’s heart stopped working.

We are no longer a functioning society.

  • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.clubEnglish
    2·
    5 days ago

    The death was a tragedy, but it seemed to be caused more by the family not wanting to move him until it was too late.

    Arizona is a state where air conditioning is considered to be a tenant’s right, so the state has some protections for people renting. It is also common for cities to have official cooling centers to help people stay cool during the day, including Bullhead City. Even without that access, indoor commercial spaces are commonly cooled.

    The article doesn’t state that the family tried to contact emergency services before finally calling the ER. Once doing so, the man was removed from his home and moved to a cooler place, even if they couldn’t cool him down in time. The man also had better air conditioning before it broke. What was society supposed to do?