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By Jo Gellerman
June 22, 2007

A new Web site designed to educate the public in the Arizona-Sonora border region about the severe risk of death among border crossers caused by high temperatures is now available.

The Web site points out the probability of how likely one or more heat-related deaths are to occur among the border-crosser population on each day in Pima County. The risk increases dramatically as temperatures rise. The prediction is estimated from the number of heat deaths occurring in this region from 2002-2005, based on research conducted by a team led by Dr. Samuel M. Keim, associate professor in The University of Arizona department of emergency medicine.

The goal of the new Web site is to help prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths among border crossers. Because it is doubtful many of these individuals actually will see the site, its primary target is the general public, who can help spread awareness about the severe danger of crossing the southern Arizona desert in extreme temperatures.

"We're going to promote the new Web site through radio stations and hospitals along the border, and through other means," Dr. Keim said. "The site will provide a five-day forecast, in English and Spanish, based on the National Weather Service probability for temperatures."

The Web site also includes links to more information on the prevention and treatment of heat stroke.

The prediction model is based partly on preliminary work, "Estimating the Incidence of Heat-Related Deaths Among Immigrants in Pima County, Arizona," published in the April 2006 issue of the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, which investigated the public health issue of heat-related deaths among individuals crossing into Arizona. The study examined the heat-related deaths recorded by the Pima County Medical Examiner, finding that the number has risen dramatically.

Sponsored by the Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center (AEMRC), the Web site officially was launched last week at the bi-annual Arizona Mexico Commission meeting, held in Tucson.

The Web site is at: http://borderrisk.med.arizona.edu/crossingRisk.html