A 79-year-old Dallas resident has died of heat-related illness, Dallas County Health and Human Services reported on Thursday.
The woman, a resident with a 75227 ZIP code, reportedly had no other pre-existing medical conditions.
“We are very saddened to report our first confirmed heat-related death this season,” Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) Director Dr. Philip Huang said in a press release.
“We encourage everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and their children from heat-related illness as temperatures remain high throughout the summer. Hydrate constantly and limit your time outdoors to protect against the intense heat,” Huang cautioned.
DCHHS said it would not disclose any personal information about the woman for privacy reasons.
The department recommends staying in air-conditioning for as long as possible and limiting outdoor activities. For those who work outdoors, taking frequent breaks in the shade and drinking plenty of water is important.
The news comes as temperatures in Dallas continue to soar.
Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits, with sunny, hot, and dry conditions all week long, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
High temperatures could climb up to 106 as a high-pressure “roadblock” over North Texas prevents rain and storms to the west from making their way into the metroplex over the next several days.
Dallas-Fort Worth experienced a historically hot summer last year, with triple-digit highs leading to the deaths of more than 20 people, as DX reported.
A data analysis by Climate Central released in October 2023 showed that several Texas cities experienced several straight days of extreme heat, setting a new record. Houston saw 22 days of consecutive extreme heat, Austin saw 16 days, San Antonio experienced 15 days, and Dallas had 14 days.
Across the world, temperatures were more than 2.34 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels from November 2022 through October 2023, according to Climate Central.
Texans should keep an eye out for heat exhaustion symptoms, such as dizziness, sweating, fatigue, weakness, and pale and clammy skin. The CDC recommends moving anyone suffering these symptoms into a cool area and getting medical attention if symptoms last longer than an hour or worsen.
Persons suffering from heat stroke do not sweat and will have red, hot, dry skin, a throbbing headache, and a rapid pulse. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should call 911 immediately.