Seminole County sees rise in heat-related emergencies ahead of July 4

Seminole County firefighters responded to 29 heat-related incidents from June 1 through June 22, a pace that puts the county on a familiar summer track as July Fourth crowds move outdoors. The county’s six-year data shows heat calls rising from spring into summer, with July and August usually bringing the heaviest run of emergencies.

Seminole County recorded 50 heat-related calls in June 2025, 46 in July and 45 in August. August 2023 was the county’s single-month record, with 67 incidents, and July 2022 set the high-water mark for that month at 52 calls. Lt. Dave Williams of the Seminole County Fire Department said the emergencies are often preventable, and roughly half of the patients end up being transported for further care.

Williams identified children and older adults as the most vulnerable groups, though anyone outside for long periods can be at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines heat stroke as the most serious heat-related illness; it can push body temperature to 106 degrees or higher in 10 to 15 minutes and can lead to permanent disability or death if treatment is delayed. Warning signs include confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, hot, dry skin or profuse sweating, and seizures.

Seminole County has activated its extreme weather plan during past heat alerts, opening cooling centers with misting fans and bottled water and working with partners including The Sharing Center and Rescue Outreach Mission. Emergency Manager Alan Harris said the plan, written five or six years ago, used to be activated for one or two days at a time but is now often in place for weeks. County heat-safety reminders have focused on checking vehicles so children and pets are not left inside, wearing light loose-fitting clothing, limiting activity during the hottest part of the day, and watching out for vulnerable neighbors.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center kept extreme heat as the primary hazard concern heading into and through the July 4 holiday weekend across much of the contiguous United States east of the Rockies. Hazardous heat can strike indoors or outdoors, and water, rest, shade and acclimatization are critical for workers exposed to it.