UNM Health warns Bernalillo County residents about summer heat dangers

UNM Health Sciences Center Newsroom published “Surviving the New Mexico Summer Heat” on July 22, and Bryan Schroeder framed it with a blunt warning that high temperatures can be dangerous if you do not take precautions. The piece opens on the summer sun beating down on New Mexico’s vast high desert, a familiar setup in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County when dry air, strong sun and outdoor activity push temperatures into a range that can quickly overwhelm the unprepared.

The advice centers on the people who face the sharpest risk in central New Mexico: outdoor workers, runners, hikers, people experiencing homelessness, children, older adults and anyone spending long stretches in a car, in the yard or at a job site. That local reality reaches well beyond obvious cases of heat stroke, because heat can build fast during the hottest part of the day and become more dangerous when nights do not cool off enough for the body to recover.

New Mexico Department of Health guidance says to seek medical attention for fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, confusion, or heat cramps, including muscle pain or spasms. The basic prevention steps are direct: drink plenty of water, stay in air-conditioned buildings when possible, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and limit outdoor activity during the hottest hours. In a county where summer errands, school pickups, construction work and trail time can all overlap with peak heat, those habits can decide whether a hot afternoon stays uncomfortable or turns into an emergency.

UNM Health has returned to the subject repeatedly. On July 17, 2025, Schroeder published a summer safety piece on signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, with video by Tom Szymanski. On July 1, 2025, he wrote another summer safety item as part of a five-part series, and the system’s “Heatwave Hydration Tips” story warned that the summer of 2023 brought temperatures and conditions that even seasoned desert-dwellers might not be used to.

The warning comes with sobering numbers. New Mexico Department of Health data showed heat-related deaths, hospitalizations and emergency room visits nearly doubled from 2019 to 2023. For residents who need a place to cool down, Albuquerque’s Summer Cool Down points to air-conditioned public buildings including libraries, senior centers and community centers, and the city has also used Operation Cool Down with 22 community centers, pools, splash pads and shelters available.