Don’t let the heat get to your head: CHI Health talks link between hot weather and crime

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Crime rises when the weather heats up.

That’s the takeaway from multiple studies that experts at CHI Health discussed Wednesday.

Right now, heat alerts are in effect for millions of Americans, including Nebraskans.

Dr. Harmit Singh with CHI Health said the extreme conditions can have a significant impact on mental health.

“It can lead to some sleep difficulties, it can lead to heat exhaustion, and sometimes that leads to increased irritability, mood swings, depression, anxiety,” he said. “Your heart’s racing more, and sometimes that makes you feel more anxious.”

Experts say these effects can lead to emotional outbursts or even violence.

“Your clarity of thought is not there,” Singh said.

He said those who work outside are particularly vulnerable.

“You’re likely to get dehydrated faster and your judgment gets impaired, your impulse control gets impaired, you can make more mistakes,” Singh said. “And that can lead to dangerous consequences.”

An article published by Forbes this month said there were 278 mass shootings last summer.  That accounted for 86% of all mass shootings in 2022.

An earlier report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics said violent crimes like murder, rape and aggravated assault are more likely to happen during the summer.

Research published in The Lancet says there are two theories that may explain the correlation.

The temperature-aggression theory suggests that hot weather leads to violence by increasing discomfort, frustration, impulsivity and aggression.

There’s also the routine activity theory, which says that as weather warms up, more outdoor gatherings allow for more conflicts and potential violence.

Lincoln Police said they generally do see more crime during summer months, and the city’s crime statistics back that up.

Between 2013 and 2023, the months between April and September saw 16 more homicides than the months between October and March.

Over that same 10-year period, Lincoln also had 110 more rape and attempted rape cases during those warm months than the cold ones.

There were 731 more aggravated assaults during the warm months.

Alicia Gentle, trauma coordinator for CHI Health, said the best way to stay healthy during the summer heat is to drink water consistently throughout the day.

“Take water bottles with you, and if you see any of those faint or dizzy signs, you have that excessive sweating, please get inside,” she said.