County Commissioner Dianne Edmondson
To our newer Robson Ranch residents who came here from other parts of the country, welcome to North Texas! And, yes, it’s going to be very hot here this summer. Now, please don’t just take my word for it (though I have lived through a large number of summers here in the Lone Star State). The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed that in each summer (June through September) they can 99% guarantee that we here in North Texas will have 100-degree temperatures. We likely also will have 100+-degree temperatures. The NWS also is predicting 50-60% probability of above-average temperatures throughout the region with only average precipitation. So, heat emergencies are likely.
There are three stages of heat emergencies: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are similar but differ in severity. Heat exhaustion can usually be treated with cold water, cool air, and rest, while heatstroke is an emergency medical condition that requires immediate care. To determine which is happening, a temperature above 100 degrees may indicate heat exhaustion, while a temperature above 104 is a sign of heatstroke and requires immediate emergency help, according to Healthline.com. Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating; weakness or tiredness; cool, pale, and clammy skin; fast, weak pulse; muscle cramps; dizziness, nausea, or vomiting; and headache and/or fainting. Dizziness and fainting also can be the first signs of heatstroke, with a temperature above 104 degrees. Other heatstroke symptoms include lack of sweating despite the heat; red, hot, and dry skin; rapid, shallow breathing; throbbing headache; and/or behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering. Heat exhaustion usually can be treated with cold water, cool air, and rest, while heatstroke is an emergency medical condition that requires immediate care. To differentiate which is happening, a temperature above 100 degrees may indicate heat exhaustion, while a temperature above 104 is a sign of heatstroke requiring immediate emergency help.
Since 2020, there have been 10 heat-related fatalities in our region (Denton, Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties), with two of those deaths here in Denton County. There were 214 heat-related illnesses region-wide, with 83 in Denton County.
What does that mean to us here in our senior-friendly community? We know that among us there are residents who are disabled, medically fragile, have limited mobility or communications barriers, and/or require personal care assistance. Such individuals should be extremely wary of these scorching days ahead, and our county Office of Emergency Management is suggesting that these residents register with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry at tdem.texas.gov/stear or by calling 2-1-1. This registration does not guarantee that you will receive a specific service during an emergency, but it is a good step to take to assist those who may be called upon to help others.
However, there is one thing that we as neighbors need to do for each other: check on people whom you know (or maybe don’t yet know) if you haven’t seen or heard from them in a day or two. State law requires a wellness check by law enforcement within 24 hours of being notified of a non-responsive individual who doesn’t answer a doorbell, a knock, or a phone call. For us here in Robson, the correct number to call to report this non-responsiveness is 940-349-8181, so that Denton Police can check it out.
If you or a friend or neighbor shows signs of these heat emergencies, please take the appropriate steps to protect yourself and others. As temperatures soar this summer, when engaging in outdoor recreation, whether it’s tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, Texas Toss, golf, or just jogging, please remember to hydrate well, and if you begin to feel any of the effects of the heat, take the appropriate steps to cool down. We want all of us to make it through this long, hot summer!
If you would like to receive her e-newsletter, please contact Commissioner Edmondson at [email protected]. You may phone her at 972-434-3960 or visit her office in the Southwest Courthouse, 6200 Canyon Falls Drive, Suite 900.