Kansas City, Mo. — The heat wave that has lingered over Kansas City for days has claimed its first victim, a 47-year-old Jackson County man.
The Jackson County Health Department reported Friday that the man had died because of exposure to excessive heat. No other information on the victim or the circumstances of the death was available Saturday.
The Kansas City Water Services Department has also suspended its water account turnoffs until the heat wave passes. This heat policy will stay in effect as long as temperatures reach 98 degrees or the heat index reaches 104 degrees. The heat wave, which has included temperatures in the mid-90s and above, was expected to continue into next week.
In Johnson County, Kan., an 89-year-old man remained in critical but stable condition after suffering heat stroke symptoms the day before in an Olathe parking lot.
The man was found about 6:30 p.m. slumped over the wheel of his vehicle at a Wal-Mart. The windows were rolled up, and the engine was off. He was taken to the hospital with a body temperature of 107 degrees.
He had been wearing a heavy long-sleeved shirt, long pants and long underwear, which health officials said was not that unusual for a man of his age to wear even in extreme heat.
Health officials encouraged athletes to work out early in the morning or late in the afternoon and to stay well- hydrated. Many libraries and community centers in the Kansas City area were scheduled to be open over the weekend to give people a place to cool off.
At least three people died this week in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs. Two men in Madison County and another in neighboring St. Clair County were found dead in their homes, none of which were air conditioned, according to the coroners' offices in those counties.
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