FORT WORTH – (WBAP/KLIF) If you live in the Fort Worth area and heard a lot of sirens Saturday, Medstar implemented it’s extreme weather response protocol again because of the extreme heat. When the heat index rises to 105 F, Medstar uses lights and sirens to get to patients outside and unprotected from the heat; regardless of the injury reported.
The heat index rose to 106F at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Saturday, before severe thunderstorms moved into Denton , parts of Tarrant and Dallas counties. Medstar’s Matt Zavadsky says the idea with the more urgent ambulance responses is to get to patients faster, so they don’t get or aggravate symptoms of heat illness and/or underlying conditions, such as heart issues, diabetes and more.
The heat was intense across North Texas Saturday because of high humidity levels from recent rainfall. While forecasters expect a brief break from the heat on Sunday and Monday, if not longer, the humidity level could rise again from Saturday’s rainfall, and we could see high temperatures above 100F, and heat index values far higher than that once again later in the week.
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