As the dangerous heat continues across North Texas, so do reports of heat-related deaths.
While under an Excessive Heat Warning Saturday, officials in Denton County reported the death of a 76-year-old woman in Corinth. In Hood County, a 72-year-old Granbury man was pronounced dead.
In both cases, medical examiners determined they died of hyperthermia or heat illness.
The Lake Cities Fire Department said crews responded to a senior living facility in Corinth just before 10 a.m. for a medical emergency. They said the woman was transported to a nearby hospital, where she died.
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June Tucker lived near the woman and said she saw her family check in on her regularly.
“She had a walker out here every day walking her, and she was doing so well. I was shocked to find out that she had passed because she was a blessing to all of us that knew her,” said Tucker.
Saturday evening, Hood County officials said they were called to help a 72-year-old man in his home in Granbury. He was flown to a hospital in Fort Worth, where he died. According to the Hood County Sheriff’s Office, the man’s wife is hospitalized in Somervell County.
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Over the weekend, MedStar told NBC 5 that heat-related calls were up across Fort Worth.
During extreme heat, they always encourage people to stay hydrated, keep air circulating, and check on the elderly and vulnerable.
HEAT SAFETY TIPS
With heat like this, you'll want to take precautions and be prepared.
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors to ensure they stay cool.
Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, if it's 95 degrees outside a car's internal temperature could climb to 129 degrees in 30 minutes. After just 10 minutes, temperatures inside could reach 114 degrees.
A child's body temperature heats up three to five times faster than an adult's, and heatstroke can begin when a person's core body temperature reaches 104 degrees. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, a core temperature of 107 degrees is lethal.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments to reduce risk during outdoor work. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heatstroke is an emergency! Call 911. The CDC has more information on heat-related illnesses.
Take care of your pets by providing fresh, cool water and shade. Also, pets should not be left outside and unattended for too long. It's too hot and they need to be brought inside.
