Hot, hot, hot: Intense heat is proving dangerous across valley

By Brian Nordli

Saturday, June 29, 2013 | midnight

The summer blaze tied record levels on Friday and looks to continue its slow-cook of the Las Vegas Valley throughout the weekend.

The temperature tied a June 28 record reaching 115 degrees at McCarran International Airport, National Weather Service meteorologist Larry Jensen said. The blistering sun made each breeze feel like a blast from a blow dryer, and left feet roasting on asphalt like burgers on a grill.

And the temperature is only expected to get hotter. After a low of 90 degrees, it is expected to ratchet up two more degrees on Saturday, to tie an all-time high 117 degrees in Las Vegas, Jensen said.

Many people throughout the valley struggled with the heat on Friday. At the Vans Warped Tour music festival held outside the Silverton Casino, 34 people were transported to area hospitals with heat exhaustion, and 206 were treated with water and shade on scene, Clark County spokesman Erik Pappa said.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue responded to 35 heat-related calls, and transported seven people to area hospitals with heat exhaustion, spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

None of the cases appeared to be life-threatening.

People should also be aware of signs of heat exhaustion such as muscle cramping, heavy sweating, weakness, pale or clammy skin, a fast but weak pulse and nausea or vomiting, Valley Health Service officials said. If a person does exhibit those signs, they should seek a cooler place, drink a half-glass of cool water every 15 minutes, and remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths to the skin, Red Cross officials said.

If a person is suffering a heat stroke, Red Cross officials recommend people contact 911 immediately. They should then move that person to a cooler place, wrap them in wet towels or sheets, keep them lying down and continue to cool them off.

To stay safe in the heat, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue recommends:

• Stay hydrated by drinking water or juice continuously.

• Cover skin with sun block.

• Slow down and take frequent breaks in a cool place when working outside

• Wear light clothing.

Las Vegas Fire and Rescue also said people should never leave pets or children in a parked car, as temperatures can rise to 135 degrees in less than 10 minutes. They also urge people to keep an eye on their garage refrigerators, extension cords and air conditioners/fans, which have the potential to overheat and cause fires in extreme heat.