Tarrant County public health officials are warning residents to take precautions against the heat as area emergency rooms report a spate of heat-related illnesses.
At a news conference Tuesday, officials encouraged residents to ask for help if the recommended precautions are not sufficient.From May 3 to July 12, 144 people went to emergency rooms with symptoms of heat-related illness, according to figures from Tarrant County Public Health. Last year, from May 1 to July 15, there were 122 ER visits.No deaths from heat-related illnesses have been reported this year in Tarrant County. Last year, there were six, said Sandra Parker, the county's medical director and health authority.This summer has been milder than last year: 2011 had the most 100-degree days in a calendar year at 71, with a streak of 40 straight 100-degree days from July 2 through Aug. 10. After a brief interruption, the state went on to post the sixth-longest streak of triple-digit highs from Aug. 15 through Sept. 3, according to the National Weather Service.However, 2012 temperatures have been high enough to cause health problems.Symptoms of heat exhaustion include confusion, dark urine (which indicates dehydration), dizziness, fainting, fatigue, headache, muscle cramps, nausea, pale skin, profuse sweating and rapid heartbeat. If you have these symptoms, get into an air-conditioned space. If you can't get inside, try to find a shady place. Drink plenty of noncaffeinated, nonalcoholic beverages. Remove tight or unnecessary clothing, take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath, and use fans or cold towels.For help paying utility bills, call 211, which connects people to a one-stop referral system for low-income Tarrant County residents who need emergency assistance. Vicki Mize, 211 manager for United Way of Tarrant County, said power bill assistance is the No. 1 request.Some people are reluctant to turn on their air conditioners because of the cost, Parker said. The relatively temperate summer may also keep air conditioner use down, Parker said."It seems like this will be a mild Texas summer," Parker said. "Is there such a thing? It does not mean that people should not take precautions."This includes material from Star-Telegram archives.Mitch Mitchell, 817-390-7752Twitter: @mitchmitchell
How to get help
For low-income residents who need help with heat-related issues:
Tarrant County Department of Human Services, 817-531-5620
Catholic Charities, 817-534-0814
Fort Worth Community Action Partners, 817-392-5790
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