State health officials in Maryland said there have been six heat-related deaths already this year, matching the total for all of last year.
The most recent confirmed death is an adult male from Montgomery County, who died in May. The death was just confirmed to be heat-related by the chief medical examiner's office.
The victim had no serious underlying health problems and was found outside, but was not homeless. All of the previously reported deaths involved those over 65. Four of the residents' homes had no air conditioning.
High temperatures are especially dangerous for the elderly and the very young, who may have difficulty regulating their body temperatures, leading to heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
There were 17 heat-related deaths in 2008 and 21 in 2007.
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