City Activates Heat Emergency Plan

With a heat advisory in effect until Friday night, the City of Austin is initiating Phase 1 of its heat emergency plan. Phase 1 involves monitoring “at-risk” people for signs of heat-related illness.

These are people the city defines as at-risk:

• People over the age of 65
• Babies younger than 12 months
• People with certain existing health conditions, taking certain medications, or otherwise medically compromised
• Socially isolated people
• Tourists/Out of town guests
• Outdoor/Special Events
• Athletes
• Homeless people
• People without access to air conditioning
• Day Laborers/Outside workers

But officials say they haven't seen any major increase in heat-related illnesses at local hospitals or through 9-1-1.

The city put out a press release advising people to do the typical stuff, like avoiding outdoors during the hottest times of day, wearing light clothing, staying hydrated, and avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks. It also has this page on how to use a fan properly.

As obvious as it might sound, some people could use the advice. In Dallas County, where it’s been even hotter than Austin, a health official told the AP that at least 12 people have died from the heat this summer.