The Texas Medical Association is urging Texans to guard against heat-related illness as high temperatures are predicted to near or eclipse 100 degrees across many areas of the state this week, according to a July 8 news release from the physicians’ group.
“Heat is the leading weather-related killer worldwide, more so than floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. It requires us to be aware and respectful of it,” said Daniel Walk, MD, an emergency physician in Marble Falls and member of the TMA Committee on Emergency Services and Trauma, in the release.
The warning carries added urgency after thousands of people recently died of heat exposure during an intense outbreak of high temperatures in France and other parts of Europe, according to French and Belgian government authorities cited in the release. Texans die of heat exposure every year, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, with the highest toll in recent years coming in 2023, when 366 people perished from the heat.
Dr. Walk said he sees patients in the emergency department every year suffering from heat-related illnesses after being outdoors working construction, doing yardwork, or playing outdoor sports. “These folks may be younger and healthier, but they can still become quite injured by not recognizing when they need to take a break and cool off,” he said.
To lower the chances of developing heat exhaustion or heat stroke, the association recommends staying hydrated by drinking water before feeling thirsty, wearing light clothes that absorb less heat, and using a hat and sunscreen to prevent sunburn. People who are elderly, young children, and those who are pregnant are especially prone to heat-related illnesses, Dr. Walk said, adding that Texans should look out for those around them and their neighbors when it becomes very hot.
The release also distinguishes between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and cramps are signs of heat exhaustion, which may be resolved by resting in the shade and hydrating. Heat stroke is a more serious condition in which the body is no longer able to fight the heat; people suffering from it can become confused, lose consciousness, and experience seizures. Dr. Walk said it is important to call 911 if anyone is experiencing heat stroke, and he urged people never to leave children or pets in a car, even for a few minutes, since dangerous heat builds quickly inside vehicles.
With triple-digit forecasts becoming a summer fixture across the state, the association said awareness and simple precautions can keep an afternoon outdoors from turning into a medical emergency. TMA, headquartered in Austin, is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 60,000 physician and medical student members, according to the release.