Monsoon madness: Storms can greatly impact your health, say Banner doctors
Available to talk about how dust, rain, lightening can influence wellness
When visibility is decreased, your reaction time comes more into play and you are more likely to get into accident.’’

PHOENIX (June 12, 2020) – June 15 marks the official beginning of what can be metro Phoenix’s most dramatic time of year: monsoon season. Until the official end of the season (Sept. 30), the Valley can see anything from microbursts to flash floods, lightening, lightening-set fires, dust and heavy winds.

Banner Health medical experts say the health effects from monsoons can be as wide-ranging as the types of weather generated by the storm seasons: Asthma, breathing problems, dehydration, heat exhaustion, increase in baby deliveries, Valley Fever are some of the conditions they treat during monsoon season.

Topics can be as wide ranging as (pre-taped interviews/SOT on tape available via links):

  • Emergency departments: Banner Health EDs say the summer storm season is one of their busiest times; trauma cases can include drownings, near-drownings and accidents.
  • Crashes due to dust storms: “We will see more motor accidents during this time of the year, around the holidays and around bad storms,’’ said Zach Bair, DO, (pronounced bear) at Banner Desert Medical Center. “When visibility is decreased, your reaction time comes more into play and you are more likely to get into accident.’’
  • Heat exhaustion: If you are exercising in high-humidity weather, you might experience some heat exhaustion because more moisture in the air makes it more difficult for the body to cool itself by perspiration and evaporation.

Please contact media@bannerhealth.com to set up interviews.

About Banner Health

As one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country, the team at Banner Health is committed to ensuring all Banner locations are a safe place for care. Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health owns and operates 28 acute-care hospitals and an array of other services, including: Banner Imaging, Banner Telehealth and Banner Urgent Care. Team members are dedicated to protecting the health and safety of patients, be it a routine checkup, elective surgery or an urgent health service. Waiting room and employee workstation layouts maintain proper social distancing; screenings are conducted at hospital entrances to verify that all employees and visitors are well; and, all Banner physicians are equipped to visit patients remotely. Learn more about Banner's commitment to safety at bannerhealth.com/safecare.