Get ready to sweat, sweat, sweat. North Texas heat index expected to top 110 degrees.
It’s hot and it’s humid in North Texas.
So it’s no wonder that the National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a heat advisory, which is in effect until 7 p.m. Thursday.
And weather forecasters say the heat advisory could be extended until the end of the week.
Here’s one more reason why the advisory has been issued:
The heat index values will be between 100 and 111 degrees.
“It’s going to feel yucky,” said meteorologist Monique Sellers with the NWS in Fort Worth on Tuesday. “The winds and clouds are helping right now, but those clouds will go away this afternoon and it’s going to be hot and humid.”
The high temperature should reach 95 on Tuesday, but the humidity levels will be high, making it feel hotter in North Texas. In Tarrant County, the heat index value should reach 107.
It’s not any cooler on Wednesday.
Temperatures on Wednesday should reach 99, and the heat index readings will be at 111.
The heat index should be over 100 all week until Friday.
MedStar officials said on Tuesday that crews had treated 88 patients in June for heat-related illnesses, and 57 were taken to hospitals. Six were listed in critical condition.
MedStar crews have treated residents for heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heat exhaustion is when the body loses large amounts of water and salt through excessive sweating, particularly through hard physical labor or exercise.
Heatstroke is a life-threatening problem that occurs when the body suffers from long, intense exposure to heat and loses its ability to cool itself. Some of the most common signs of heatstroke include confusion, vomiting, alteration in sweating, hot and flushed skin, rapid heart rate, decreased sweating, shortness of breath, decreased urination, increased body temperature (104 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit), or potentially, even convulsions.
MedStar officials provided these safety tips for the heat::
▪ .Hydrate: Drink plenty of water during the day, especially if you are engaged in any strenuous activity. Sports drinks are a good choice if you’re exercising or working in hot conditions, but water is a good way to hydrate as well.
▪ Ventilate: Stay in a place where there is plenty of air circulating to keep your body cool. If you are indoors and don’t have access to air conditioning, open windows and use a fan.
▪ Cover Up: Wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing to avoid absorbing the sun’s light and trapping heat. Wear a hat to shield yourself from the sun, but once you feel yourself getting warm, remove any items covering your head which can trap heat close to your body.
▪ Limit Activity: Heatstroke can occur in less than an hour when you are participating in strenuous activity during a hot day. If you feel yourself getting hot or light-headed, stop your activity and rest in a cool place out of the sun. Be sure to drink water or a sports drink before, during, and after any strenuous activity.
▪ Check on Loved Ones: The elderly are especially vulnerable to heat-related emergencies. Many elderly residents are not aware of how hot it may get in their residence. Call on older friends and family members regularly to assure they are doing OK.
MedStar officials also warned about children left in cars. So far this summer, MedStar crews have responded to two calls where a child has been left in a hot car. Texas leads the nation in child hot car deaths.
MedStar has a special response procedure when heat index temperature climbs to 105 degrees or higher. For patients located outside in an unprotected area, MedStar officials upgrade the priority of the response to limit the patient and responders from exposure to extreme heat.
MedStar also has new ambulances in their fleet that have three air conditioners; one for the cab, and two for the patient/crew compartment.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 1:35 PM.
