SAN ANTONIO — With days of oppressive heat upon us in San Antonio, a new tool is making it easier to track hot days when those sensitive to high temperatures might feel the effects more acutely.
The Centers for Disease Control's online database showing the level of heat risk in a given area showed that Bexar County was in the "Moderate" threshold, two levels away from the most severe risk tier of "Extreme." The Moderate risk means San Antonians who are sensitive to heat could experience health impacts.
That's the data Metro Health is tracking through a new dashboard that documents the number of heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration, fainting, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
So far this year, 194 heat-related illnesses – or HRIs – have been reported. Most have been heat exhaustion. These numbers represent people who went to emergency rooms in Bexar County with heat illness.
And this is just one part of the data. Further down the dashboard, it breaks down the number of HRIs by the day’s heat index.
On June 4, our biggest spike of heat-related illnesses occurred with 14 cases reported. The heat index reached 115 degrees that day.
The dashboard also contains data on illnesses by gender, age and year. Officials say the impetus for the tool comes down to awareness for safety and prevention.
“This is just something that we're tracking to see,” said Rita Espinosa, Metro Health's chief of epidemiology. “(With) more heat that we're experiencing, do we also see that with the heat-related illnesses? Our hope would be no, because we're getting these prevention messages out there and that individuals are doing the things that they can to prevent these.”
Metro Health will continue to track this data until September or October. But that's actually dependent on when temperatures start to fall.
The department's "Beat the Heat" webpage also includes information on cooling centers in the area and heat safety tips.
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