First heat-related death of the season reported in Dallas County

The Dallas County Health and Human Services Department reported the first confirmed heat-related death of the 2024 season Thursday evening, as the Dallas Fort Worth area grapples with days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).

The person was a 79-year-old woman from Dallas who lived in the 75227 zip code, a county news release said. She had no previous medical conditions, the news release said. Authorities did not release any personal information for privacy and confidentiality reasons.

“We are very sad to report the first confirmed heat-related death of the season,” said Dr. Philip Huang, director of the DCHHS. “We encourage everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and their children from heat-related illness as temperatures remain high throughout the summer. Stay hydrated and limit your time outdoors to protect yourself from the intense heat.”

A heat warning is in effect for the Dallas-Fort Worth region through Friday evening and an extreme heat warning is in effect from Friday noon until 9 p.m.

When the body has difficulty cooling itself effectively, heat-related illnesses can occur.

To protect yourself from excessive heat, authorities recommend staying in air-conditioned rooms whenever possible, keeping outdoor activities to a minimum, taking frequent breaks in the shade when working outdoors, drinking plenty of fluids and paying attention to the signs of heat-related illnesses.

If someone does not have air conditioning at home, DCHHS recommends that people call 214-819-1976 to see if they are eligible for emergency window air conditioning.