By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina’s Heat Safety Week began on Monday. And right on cue, we’re continuing to experience the hottest temperatures of the year so far.
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The state’s heat season typically runs from around May 1 through September 30 each year.
In 2025 alone, there were more than 5,700 heat-related emergency room visits, with heat remaining the leading weather-related cause of death in the country.
That’s why it’s important to know the difference between health impacts from heat that are serious versus health impacts that are life threatening.
Heat exhaustion can cause a person to feel dizzy, sweat excessively, or have muscle cramps. Cooling off and drinking plenty of water can usually help with these symptoms.
But heat stroke is far more dangerous and can show symptoms of hot, dry skin with no sweating and even a loss of consciousness.
This extreme level of health impact requires immediate medical attention, meaning you should dial 911 for help.
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One of the most dangerous places to be on days with intense heat is inside a vehicle. Even at just 90 degrees, the inside temperature of a car can shoot up to 109 degrees after 10 minutes and more than 130 degrees in an hour.
Since 1998, North Carolina ranks fifth in hot car deaths, with Texas coming in number one with 155.
Something not thought about as much is the temperature of different surfaces and how it can hurt our furry friends.
On a day with the air temperature around 95 degrees, concrete can soar to 125 degrees, with darker asphalt climbing to 140.
This can burn paws and bare feet after less than one minute of contact.
Thankfully, the intense heat should back off by late week. But the official start of summer is a little more than a month away.
Be sure to use this time as a reminder of important heat safety before we begin to see week after week with highs in the 90s.
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