As the heat bears down on North Texas, people are looking for ways to stay cool and safe. For those who work outdoors, though, heat exposure is part of their daily lives and poses major risks.
North Texas summers come with an increased threat of heat-related illness. Dr. Johan Valle, an emergency medicine physician at Medical City McKinney, said he has seen a rise in heat-related ER visits in Collin County over the past several days.
“It could be as simple as a heat rash, as simple as nausea or muscle cramping, to as severe as confusion, passing out,” said Valle.
In Dallas County, the Department of Health and Human Services is raising awareness about its free AC window unit program, an initiative to provide relief to the county’s most vulnerable population.
The health department said people between the ages of 18 and 50 are most affected by extreme heat. Then, there are those constantly exposed to the elements, landscapers, construction workers, first responders and mail carriers.
Kimetra Lewis, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Dallas branch, described what it’s like to work outside during soaring temperatures.
“It is draining and exhausting. And when you get home after being in the heat all day long, you have nothing else to give,” she said.
She spoke to NBC 5 via Zoom from Austin, where she attended the state convention for letter carriers, joining her colleagues concerned about work conditions, especially during the summer months.
“We have always asked for air-conditioned vehicles. That has been one of our foremost focuses, getting some air-conditioned vehicles,” said Lewis. “We stress with the postal service a need to allow carriers to take more breaks.”
Last month, the USPS told NBC 5 that thousands of USPS vehicles in Texas had air conditioning, but they couldn’t say when more would be added.
“There are more than 7,000 Postal Service delivery vehicles equipped with air conditioning in Texas,” the USPS said. “At this time, we cannot provide specific dates for future locations, but will be deploying vehicles in accordance with the rollout of our new delivery network.”
County health services advise drinking plenty of water and watching for warning signs of heat-related illness, such as dizziness and cramps.
“I’ve taken care of 30-year-old cops that are in prime health and have to stay the night in the hospital because they’re not doing well,” Valle said.
Lewis added that people should look out for one another, especially those exposed to heat daily.
For more information, visit the CDC website.
Great Job Candace Sweat & the Team @ NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth Source link for sharing this story.
