How to stay safe as temperatures rise in Shelby County
by: Shay Simon
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As temperatures rise across Shelby County, Memphians should take safety precautions to combat the heat.
The Shelby County Health Department says this heat can be deadly, and last year, one person did die.
Right now, doctors say they are seeing more heat exhaustion and dehydration, especially in children. As temperatures increase, more and more people are ending up in the emergency room, especially kids.
Rudy Kink is a Pediatric Emergency Physician with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, who sees firsthand how heat can land families in the ER.
“They don’t know how hot they are getting until they get nauseous and are vomiting and really tired, and that’s when we come in,” said Kink. “If you see their face is really red, their heart is beating, you should bring them in to cool off, and have planned time where they have to come in and cool off.”
Heat-related illness impacts people of all ages. Those at greater risk are the elderly, infants, young children, patients with chronic illness, and the unhoused.
A graph from the Shelby County Health Department shows how since April, Emergency Room visits have quadrupled.

“Make sure you have plenty fluids, shade, seek medical care if you feel faint, shortness of breath, pain, weakness,” said Kink. “Things like that are what you really have to watch out for.”
So far in 2024, no suspected heat deaths have been reported.