The National Weather Service says high temperatures in North Texas will reach back into the upper 90s Saturday with temperatures reaching back into triple digits by Sunday and into next week. With the early heat, the City of Fort Worth is urging people to plan ahead.
The ambulance provider, MedStar, says it has already responded to 118 heat-related emergencies; 71 needed transport to the hospital.
"We are barely just getting into the summer season, and summers here in North Texas can be very long," says MedStar's Matt Zavadsky. "We just want to remind everyone heat is serious."
Zavadsky says the majority of MedStar's responses have been a result of heat index, so even though the temperature may stay in the 90s, the humidity can still make prolonged outdoor activity dangerous.
Zavadsky urges people with plans outside this weekend to start "pre-hydrating" now.
"If you've waited until you start getting thirsty, it's too late. You're behind the eight-ball," he says. "Typically, we recommend pre-hydrating at least a day or two ahead of time, so if it's Thursday and you know you're going to be out and about Saturday, start tanking up today."
MedStar has also responded to two cases of kids left in hot cars.
"Brand new parents, they are sleep-deprived, they are harried, and it just happens," Zavadsky says.
He urges parents to keep a stuffed animal in the car seat all the time. Then when they drive with their kid in the car seat, they can keep the stuffed animal in front as a reminder.
"When you arrive at your destination, and you ask, 'Why is Mr. Binky here in the front seat?' you'll remember, 'Oh, it's because my one-month old is in the back seat," Zavadsky says.
The City of Fort Worth says it has shelters ready in case of widespread or prolonged power outages.
"We will stay in contact with our partners at Oncor," says Fort Worth Emergency Management Director Robert Medford. "Should the need arise, we'll notify the public of those locations."
Meantime, the city urges residents to take steps to try to take stress off the grid.
"Make sure you turn off electronics when you're not in the room," the Property Management Department's Juanita Rigsby said at Fort Worth City Hall. "Staying cool in the home, you can turn up your thermostat, just as we do here, to 78 degrees or higher and make sure you use your fans in coordination with your A/C unit so it doesn't have to work as hard."
Rigsby urges people to make sure their ceiling fans are spinning counterclockwise to create a cooling effect, keep blinds closed and use black-out curtains.
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