July 8,
2026 

The
heat
is
on
in
Texas
with
high
temperatures
predicted
to
near
or
eclipse
100
degrees
this
week
in
many
areas.
Physicians
are
cautioning
everyone:
Avoid
the
dangers
of
overheating.

Thousands
of
people
recently
died
of
heat
exposure
during
an
intense
outbreak
of
high
temperatures
in
France
and
other
parts
of
Europe,
according
to
French
and
Belgian
government
authorities.

“Heat
is
the
leading
weather-related
killer
worldwide,
more
so
than
floods,
tornadoes,
and
hurricanes.
It
requires
us
to
be
aware
and
respectful
of
it,”
said
Daniel
Walk,
MD,
an
emergency
physician
in
Marble
Falls
and
member
of
the
Texas
Medical
Association
(TMA)
Committee
on
Emergency
Services
and
Trauma.

Texans
die
of
heat
exposure
every
year,
according
to
the
Texas
Department
of
State
Health
Services.
The
highest
number
of
deaths
in
recent
years
was
in
2023
when
366
people
perished
from
the
heat.

Dr.
Walk
sees
patients
in
the
emergency
department
every
year
suffering
from
heat-related
illnesses
after
being
outdoors
–
working
construction,
doing
yardwork,
or
playing
outdoor
sports.

“These
folks
may
be
younger
and
healthier,
but
they
can
still
become
quite
injured
by
not
recognizing
when
they
need
to
take
a
break
and
cool
off,”
said
Dr.
Walk.

He
said
it
is
important
to
“choose
behaviors
that
decrease
the
chances
of
developing
heat
exhaustion
or
heat
stroke.”
These
include
staying
hydrated
by
not
waiting
to
feel
thirsty
before
drinking
water,
wearing
light
clothes
that
absorb
less
heat,
and
using
a
hat
and
sunscreen
to
prevent
sunburn.

People
who
are
elderly,
young
children,
and
those
who
are
pregnant
are
especially
prone
to
heat-related
illnesses,
Dr.
Walk
said.
“We
need
to
look
out
for
those
around
us,
those
with
us,
and
our
neighbors,
when
it
becomes
very
hot.”

Dr.
Walk
also
distinguished
between
heat
exhaustion
and
heat
stroke
–
which
is
a
medical
emergency.

Dizziness,
nausea,
vomiting,
and
cramps
are
all
signs
of
heat
exhaustion.
These
conditions
may
be
resolved
by
resting
in
the
shade
and
hydrating.

Heat
stroke,
however,
is
a
more
serious
condition
when
the
body
is
no
longer
able
to
fight
the
heat.
People
suffering
from
heat
stroke
can
get
confused,
become
unconscious,
and
experience
seizures.
Dr.
Walk
said
it
is
important
to
call
911
if
anyone
is
experiencing
a
heat
stroke.

Dr.
Walk
also
urges
people
to
never
leave
children
or
pets
in
a
car
–
even
for
a
few
minutes
–
since
dangerous
heat
builds
quickly
in
that
environment.

TMA is
the
largest
state
medical
society
in
the
nation,
representing
more
than
60,000
physician
and
medical
student
members.
It
is
located
in
Austin
and
has
110
component
county
medical
societies
around
the
state.
TMA’s
key
objective
since
1853
is
to
improve
the
health
of
all
Texans.

–30–

See


medical
and
legal
disclaimer

TMA
Contacts:  Brent
Annear
(512)
370-1381;
cell:
(512)
656-7320;
email:

brent.annear@texmed.org

Swathi
Narayanan
(512)
370-1382;
cell:
(408)
987-1318;
email:

swathi.narayanan@texmed.org

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