Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County report recent heat-related deaths

BALTIMORE --  Two more people died in Maryland because of heat-related illness, bringing the number to six this summer.

Health officials say the two recent deaths were reported in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County as temperatures reached up to 100 degrees. The other four were in Prince George's County.

"We're kind of just moving from AC to AC and we just came from getting Italian ice," Towson resident Connie Zammett said.

Maryland baked under the sun on Wednesday as temperatures brought another round of extreme heat.

Connor Corcoran, a 10-year-old from Towson, says he had football camp and lacrosse tryouts under the blazing sun and kept his water bottle close by.

"I actually had football camp today and I drank all this water," he said. "I'm sweating so fast, like even when I'm standing still, drinking water, I still sweat."

Dr. Clifford Mitchell, with the Maryland Department of Health, says when it comes to the sweltering sun, everyone needs to stay hydrated and stay cool.

Data shows that between June 30 and July 6, 127 people in Maryland visited the emergency room for heat-related issues.

"You can have a weak heart rate, you can have confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, those are all signs of potentially life-threatening heat exhaustion or heat stroke," Mitchell said. 

WJZ's weather team declared Wednesday a First Alert Weather Day, describing the heat as the "worst" of the week. 

Temperatures range from 100 to 107 degrees across the region with some areas inching towards 110°

Nine people died from heat-related illnesses in 2023. The most reported heat deaths in Maryland were 21 in 2019 and 2020.

For symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to stay cool, visit the link here. 

Here's a list of cooling centers.