Heat kills and injures more people than any other weather event such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and lightening, according to the National Weather Service.
 
Health warnings were issued early Thursday by the National Weather Service and Johnson County Emergency Management.
 
Summer heat waves can endanger the health of first responders, too. Firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics are among the most susceptible to heat related injuries.
 
The physical and mental demands associated with emergency operations, coupled with the environmental dangers of extreme heat and humidity, create conditions that adversely affect the health and impair the safety of responder personnel. With extreme heat pushing the thermometer toward 100 degrees and humidity creeping high too, dangerous conditions could cause heat illnesses for people and pets.

Medical warnings suggest drinking lots of fluids and staying out of the sun.
 

If possible, stay in air-conditioned rooms.

Small animals also should have plenty of water available and if possible keep them indoors, too. If left outside, animals not only should have water, but shade also.

It is recommended that friends and neighbors check on each other frequently. If you see neighbors pets left outside, make sure they have water available.

High heat and humidity create dangerous conditions and should be treated with extreme caution.