Heat, poor air quality create perfect storm of hazardous weekend conditions

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires is affecting air quality across the country. When combined with this weekend's extreme heat in Raleigh, it is creating hazardous conditions across the Triangle.

For some families, the conditions have already changed their plans.

"We went to the park. Dorothea Dix. It was so hot. We had to get the kids in for some ice cream," Janssen Arrington said.

As temperatures climb, businesses that help people cool off are seeing more customers. But while a cold treat may provide temporary relief from the heat, it does nothing to improve air quality.

Robert Tighe, associate professor of medicine at Duke University, calls it a double whammy. 

"The combination between feeling more short of breath from the heat and more short of breath from poor air quality is really something that's going to be a big concern this weekend," he said.

Emergency responders are also preparing for the dangerous conditions.

Wake County Emergency Medical Services is responding to an average of about three heat-related calls each day, though that number reached as many as 15 during one day in July.

Commander of Community Outreach for Wake County EMS, Staten Young, said hydration is key. 

"If you know you are going to be outside, hydrate the day before," Young said. "You can never be on top of it enough."

Along with monitoring heat-related illnesses, EMS crews will also be keeping a close eye on the impact of poor air quality.

Dr. Tighe recommends that people with pre-existing health conditions spend as much time as possible in air conditioning this weekend. Even those who are otherwise healthy should consider limiting time outdoors and checking in on family members, neighbors, and others who may be more vulnerable.

"Sometimes it's easy to just think we power through these things and don't take them with the importance that they are," he said. "But high temperatures, like we're going to have this weekend, and air pollution can really make people sick."