St. Louis (KMOX) -- Temperatures will approach 100 degrees again on Thursday and Friday. And officials are once again urging residents to talk to friends and neighbors to make sure they are staying safe -- and cool.
According to the CDC, the heat kills more than 700 people a year in the United States.
St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson says the way to make sure someone you know does not get harmed by the heat is to simply check on them.
"When I say check, I mean go to their house and have a 10-15 minute conversation with them," Jenkerson said. "Reach out and touch them to make sure they're not too hot."
Touching them is important, he says, because the elderly don't realize when they're overheating. Jenkerson says when firefighters are called to help heat victims, they oftentimes find someone who doesn't want to both anyone.
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"If you can get into their house, make sure the house is cool. If it's not, contact Cool Down St. Louis. Or, if you're really concerned, call the St. Louis Fire Department," Jenkerson said.
Meanwhile, Cool Down St. Louis had 800 window air conditioning units and $165,000 donated by Ameren Missouri. The money will help pay for energy bills.
The units will be distributed to St. Louis City, St. Louis County along with 12 surrounding counties including St. Charles, Warren, and Lincoln Counties.
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