CHICAGO – The blowtorch heat that blistered California last week gripped the Midwest on Monday, prompting communities to throw air-conditioned buildings open to the public and endangering millions of people with outdoor jobs – including NFL players in training camp.
Temperatures throughout the Midwest and Plains exceeded 100 degrees. The heat index, a measure of temperature plus humidity, climbed as high as 110 in some places. The National Weather Service issued heat warnings for such cities as Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio, and Tulsa, Okla.
Cheryl Harriston struggled to stay comfortable as she handed out fliers supporting an increase in the minimum wage at an intersection in Columbus, Ohio.
“I have my water, my hat, and I stand in the shade a lot,” Harriston said. “And, when I feel that cool breeze, I really take a minute to appreciate it.”
The Midwest could get some relief by Wednesday, but the worst of the heat was expected to drift into the Northeast on Tuesday, bringing scorching temperatures to New York, Washington and Boston.
NFL teams closely monitored players for signs of heat-related illness. The heat prompted the Chicago Bears to cancel morning practice at training camp in Bourbonnais, Ill. On Sunday, the Tennessee Titans let defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth leave practice early with dizziness.
In Chicago, officials made available a special telephone line to request checks on vulnerable neighbors and friends. The Department of Human Services and police responded to nearly 50 such requests by early Monday. The city’s Department of Aging also telephoned more than 300 senior citizens to offer help, such as rides to cooling centers.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office reported two heat-related deaths Monday. Both victims were men in their 50s or 60s with heart disease. In Oklahoma, authorities reported two more deaths that happened over the weekend.
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