The Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) is urging the public to take special precautions as searing triple-digit temperatures become the norm, per a report from Austin ABC affiliate KVUE.
Captain Christa Stedman of ATCEMS’s public information office told KVUE that the agency has been fielding many calls arising from situations associated with the hot weather.
"Especially right at the beginning of our warm season, we typically see an increase in 9-1-1 calls related to heat-related illnesses," Stedman said in the report.
She added that ATCEMS had taken more than 30 calls this month, stressing that if anyone is looking to spend time outdoors, it should be in the morning when the heat isn’t as excruciating, according to KVUE.
"Make sure you are staying hydrated when you are doing outdoor activities, make sure you are taking rest breaks in shade, cool down with water, and avoid extra dehydration, avoiding alcohol or caffeine," Stedman told the station.
Per KVUE, ATCEMS suggested people consume about 32 ounces of water daily and wear light clothing when going outside.
Thursday marked the first day of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) weeklong weather watch.
Austin Journal reported that the operator of the state’s energy grid cited forecasts of triple-digit heat and the likelihood of increased demand for issuing the watch.
According to a report from Austin FOX affiliate KTBC, in addition to a heat wave, Central Texas is in the throes of poor air quality.
Citing experts, KTBC reported that Austin and surrounding areas have been shrouded in a haze that’s purportedly created by the present weather, burning on Mexican farms and the wildfires in Canada.
Such conditions aren’t ideal for anyone who’s immunocompromised or suffers from respiratory problems, the station reported.
"Most people that have those underlying issues have inhalers, and you should make avail of those sooner than you normally would, but also seek evaluation for more aggressive therapy sooner than you typically would knowing what's going on in the air," Austin gastroenterology specialist Dr. Pradeep Kumar told KTBC.