A Phoenix firefighter stocks bags of ice used to rapidly cool patients suffering from heatstroke, part of a new emergency response to extreme heat. Photo: PBS NewsHour
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August 31, 2026
Extreme heat kills more Americans than any other weather threat. In Phoenix, where heat outpaces homicides, firefighters are turning to a low-tech lifesaver: bags of ice. Students explore how cities can protect people from deadly heat.
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Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related threat in the U.S. In Phoenix, heat kills more people than homicides each year. So the city is turning to an unlikely lifesaver: bags of ice. And the fire department is creating a new model in the battle against heatstroke. For our series, Tipping Point, Ben Tracy of Climate Central shows how this low-tech approach is saving lives.
View the transcript of the story.
Short on time? Watch the video and complete the following See, Think, Wonder questions: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
This segment was about ways that emergency responders treat people experiencing heat stroke in cities. But what can be done to prevent heat-related illness in the first place? Check out this lesson and begin brainstorming ways to reduce heat in cities, or offer relief for people who may be at risk of heat illness.
As a class, discuss — how can we plan cities to make them safer for people during periods of extreme heat?
Explore more resources for educators to find a wide-range of relevant preK-12 lessons on climate change or supporting young people as they continue to lead the conversation around the climate change crisis.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
