In recent years, when you turn on the TV or go online to get the weather forecast, images of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes somewhere in the world often dominate the coverage. For many, these weather events represent the most devastating consequences of accelerating climate change. Yet, quietly overshadowed by these dramatic events, heat claims more lives annually than all other weather-related disasters combined.
In 2023 alone, heat stress was responsible for the deaths of over 2,300 people in the United States, and more than 120,000 others required emergency medical attention. Globally, the impact of heat is even greater. During the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, over 1,300 lives were tragically lost to heat stress and dehydration. As climate change accelerates, the toll of extreme heat is rising sharply. Heat-related deaths have increased by 117% since 1999, and experts warn this figure could surge by an alarming 370% by 2050.
The Climate Change Connection: Fueling Extreme Heat
Increasing Deserts Due to Climate Change
The increase in extreme heat events is no coincidence. Climate change is driving global temperatures higher at an alarming rate, making deadly heat waves more frequent and severe. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human activities have raised average global temperatures by 1.1°C since the pre-industrial era, fueling a steady rise in extreme heat events worldwide.
While a 1.1°C increase may seem insignificant compared to daily or seasonal weather fluctuations, it signals a profound shift in the Earth’s energy balance. Unlike temporary local weather changes, global temperature reflects the cumulative heat stored in the planet’s oceans, atmosphere, and land. Historically, even small changes in average temperature have had dramatic consequences. For example, a 1-2 degree drop triggered the Little Ice Age, while a five °C decrease buried much of North America under ice 20,000 years ago. These seemingly minor shifts demonstrate the wide-reaching impacts of even modest changes, emphasizing the urgency of addressing our current 1.1°C rise.
As global temperatures climb, communities worldwide face longer, hotter summers with unprecedented heatwaves that threaten lives, strain infrastructure, and overwhelm public health systems. The World Meteorological Organization warns that record-breaking heat will become the norm by mid-century without significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This grim reality points to an increasing prevalence of heat-related illnesses and fatalities as the planet continues to warm.
Understanding this connection highlights the need to treat extreme heat as both a public health crisis and a symptom of the broader climate emergency. Addressing these challenges requires immediate and coordinated global action.
The Invisible Killer: Heat and Its Dangers
Extreme heat is a silent, invisible danger. Unlike storms or floods, it does not strike with immediate, dramatic force. Instead, it creeps in slowly, often with fatal consequences for those exposed. Many people fail to recognize the risks of heat-related illnesses until it is too late and conditions such as heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke can develop rapidly, particularly without proper hydration or cooling. This makes extreme heat one of the most deceptive and underestimated threats to public health.
Beyond immediate fatalities, extreme heat can cause severe and lasting health issues. Even a minimal increase in a person’s core temperature can impact cognition, and error rates in tasks— long before the person ‘feels’ the discomfort. Untreated heat exhaustion and heatstroke can lead to brain and organ damage. At the same time, prolonged exposure can result in permanent disabilities, cardiovascular complications, and respiratory issues. These impacts are particularly severe for individuals with preexisting health conditions. The effects of extreme heat extend far beyond temporary discomfort, with life-altering consequences for those affected.
Essential workers, including construction crews, farmers, industrial laborers, and delivery personnel, are particularly vulnerable. These jobs often require extended hours outdoors or in high-temperature environments, exacerbating heat stress risks. Agricultural workers, for example, endure rising temperatures during peak growing seasons, while factory employees face hazardous heat levels in poorly ventilated settings.
Tragic incidents underscore the gravity of this issue. In August 2023, a UPS driver collapsed while on the job due to extreme heat and later passed away at home. Such cases highlight the individual health risks and broader economic impacts, as extreme heat reduces worker productivity. Despite their vital contributions to the economy, many essential workers lack sufficient protections or resources to mitigate the dangers of heat exposure, underscoring the urgent need for systemic solutions.
While heat waves affect everyone, certain populations are at higher risk. Vulnerable populations— including the elderly, individuals with chronic health conditions, and low-income communities without access to air conditioning—bear the brunt of extreme heat events. For these populations, each summer becomes increasingly dangerous as temperatures rise and resources for relief remain scarce.
The strain on public health systems is also growing. Hospitals see surges in heat-related illnesses, while emergency responders and other essential workers face heightened risks during extreme heat conditions. Maricopa County, Arizona, illustrates the escalating toll of heatwaves. In 2022, over 300 residents succumbed to heat-related illnesses, a number that rose to more than 500 in 2023. Alarmingly, 45% of these fatalities involved low-income individuals experiencing homelessness who lacked access to adequate shelter or cooling resources.
The tragedy is that many heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable. However, cooling measures and resources often fail to reach those who need them most—whether essential workers in extreme conditions or individuals in areas with limited access to cooling facilities. Addressing these challenges requires innovative and inclusive solutions to ensure no one is left behind in the fight against extreme heat.
Military Facing Extreme Conditions
For military personnel, the dangers of extreme heat are particularly acute. Soldiers often operate in unforgiving environments, including arid deserts and other hot climates where temperatures exceed typical thresholds. In these conditions, the risk of heat-related injuries such as heat stress, dehydration, and heatstroke are a constant threat. The challenge is exacerbated by the heavy equipment soldiers typically carry and the intense physical activity required during extended missions.
Military Cooling System
The U.S. military has long recognized the detrimental effects of heat on its personnel. Although previous cooling systems were developed to address heat risks, these solutions often fell short. The systems were bulky, relied on heavy battery packs, and added significant weight to soldiers’ gear, making them impractical for prolonged missions. Other designs intended for vehicle integration were ineffective or constructed from materials unsuitable for optimal cooling. These shortcomings highlighted the critical need for a more effective, lightweight, and efficient cooling solution, ultimately driving a breakthrough in personal cooling technology.
Oceanit’s Innovation: The Active Cooling Suit
Active Cooling Suit Garment
Oceanit addressed this “invisible crisis” with an innovative solution that balances safety and mobility for individuals in extreme heat. The Active Cooling Suit, a garment that employs advanced nanomaterial tubing called ThermoCore to help regulate core body temperatures, was developed for military personnel including, Army AirWarriors, Submarine Welders, KC-135 crews, and Firefighters. Unlike conventional gear, this suit optimizes heat extraction from the wearer via the ThermoCore material, allowing users to function safely and efficiently even in the most sweltering conditions.
Oceanit’s Active Cooling Suit offers life-saving potential beyond military use as heat risks intensify. Adapted for construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding industries, the suit provides continuous cooling, enabling workers to maintain focus, endurance, and safety under extreme heat.
19°N: The Ultimate Heat-Dissipating Cooling Gear Catalogue
Building on the success of the Active Cooling Suit, Oceanit created 19°N, named for the southernmost latitude of the State of Hawai’i, which is also the US’s southernmost point. This Hawaii-based brand is a collection of essential cooling gear that utilizes Oceanit’s innovative expertise in next-generation cooling technology. It incorporates the advanced cooling features of the Active Cooling Suit personal cooling system and adapts them for various applications and purposes.
19°N has developed and deployed tethered systems for users like welders, shipbuilders, blasters, and more. In addition to the cooling technologies, 19°N also developed autonomous systems that run on battery packs for both recreational and industrial uses.
CoreSense, an AI solution that accompanies personal cooling garments to deliver cutting-edge biometric monitoring capabilities is a new addition to 19°N. CoreSense uses sensors to monitor ambient conditions and the wearer’s vital signs, such as body heat and heart rate. This real-time data allows personal cooling systems to adjust cooling intensity dynamically, ensuring optimal performance tailored to the individual.
CoreSense addresses the military’s need for smarter use of cooling systems. Current systems often rely on multiple, heavy battery packs, which add to the physical burden of soldiers and fail to account for individual needs. CoreSense addresses these issues by reducing weight, conserving energy, and delivering adaptive cooling based on the wearer’s exertion levels and physiological state. This technology extends battery life and provides critical health feedback, enabling wearers to take breaks when necessary, thereby reducing the risk of heat-related injuries and enhancing operational efficiency.
Oceanit is also gradually integrating CoreSense into fully encapsulated garments like Level A protective suits, commonly known as “Moon Suits”. Designed for use in hazardous environments, such as chemical warfare zones, these suits provide full-body protection but often trap heat, creating additional risks for the wearer. CoreSense technology will regulate internal temperatures, ensuring user safety while maintaining essential protection.
Oceanit envisions CoreSense transforming safety across various industries. From construction and firefighting to sports and athletics, CoreSense and other 19°N technologies like, ThermoCore nanotubing, offer intuitive and adaptive cooling solutions to protect health and optimize performance for those exposed to extreme heat.
Toward a Safer, Cooler Future
Oceanit’s advancements in cooling technology offer an immediate and practical response to the human impacts of extreme heat. Whether on the battlefield or the construction site, 19°N is producing innovations like the Active Cooling Suit and CoreSense that are designed to safeguard those most at risk, enabling them to remain safe, focused, and productive in the face of mounting heat challenges.
