LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- It's the end of May, but high temperatures make it feel like the middle of July. Many people have outdoor events planned for this weekend, but the heat may get dangerous.
If you think it is warm outside now, wait until this weekend. There are some concerns surrounding the hot temperatures we are expecting this holiday weekend. This Memorial Day Weekend will be a scorcher with the heat index jumping at 100 degrees or more.
A new report suggests Louisville will be the leading city in the country for heat deaths by the end of the century. Put together excessive heat caused by climate change, and the Natural Resources Defense Council says Louisville will lose 19,000 people to heat by the year 2099. You can read the report here.
Dr. Neal Richmond with Metro EMS says some are more prone to heat related illness than others, including the elderly, the very young, and those on blood pressure or psychiatric medications.
Before the heat wave hits, you could spot people snoozing, sunbathing, and even swimming at waterfront park. "We would be out here 24/7 if I'd allow it. I need them to rest and stay cool, too," said mother of two, Katie Ennenbach. She knows her tots need her help to stay hydrated.
"We fill these up," said Ennenbach, showing her drink containers. "We do half-water, half-juice, 'cause I like them to have a lot of water but with a little flavor in it."
Dr. Neal Richmond says you should wear loose clothing, take lots of breaks, and even though the alcohol may be flowing this weekend, drink plenty of water. Last summer, high temperatures caused several deaths in Louisville. A 2-year-old was found dead inside a car at a Lyndon apartment complex. His mother, Mollie Shouse, was charged with murder. And, 18-year-old Cody Johns died after a long day landscaping in Louisville. His body temperature reached 110 degrees.
"You feel a little out of it, headachy, nausea, dizzy, weak, fatigue, you may feel like a cold's coming on, you may feel a bit sleep deprived," explained Richmond. But, he said if the symptoms get worse, the situation can turn from heat exhaustion, to heat stroke. "Those people are in grave, grave danger. we're talking you've got minutes to do something," said Richmond.
We will see some of the hottest conditions since last summer. The heat index could get into triple digits this Memorial Day weekend, but it doesn't have to get that hot for temperatures to be dangerous.
On an 80 degree day, the inside of a car can quickly reach 100 degrees. This week, a Louisville man was arrested and charged with wanton endangerment after police say he left his baby boy alone in a hot car on an 80 degree day. Police say the baby had a red face and sweat on his forehead.
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