Saturday kick-off to be over 100 degrees, EMS warns of heat
Austin-Travis County EMS to warn people to come prepared, ask for help, and be careful underneath the scorching hot sun. (Richie Bowes/KXAN)
AUSTIN (KXAN) — When the football game between the University of Texas and Louisiana State University begins it will likely be over 100 degrees in DKR Memorial Stadium.
That kind of heat has led Austin-Travis County EMS to warn people to come prepared, ask for help, and be careful underneath the scorching hot sun.
The fans were already out and ready under the scorching sun Friday, when crews for Longhorn City Limits and ESPN were setting up.
“This is a big game for both schools right now,” said Charlie Radcliff, a LSU fan from the Lousiana coast. He drove to Austin Friday to get a sneak peek of his tailgate location. As for the heat? He says coming from the sticky Louisiana swamp — he’s used to it.
“Humidity will be at 100%. You can’t cool off when you sweat it doesn’t evaporate. Here, the temperature is going to be hotter here,” said Radcliff.
“DKR and the area surrounding UT is going to be just like a small city tomorrow. So we expect to see the calls that we would see in any of 100,000 tomorrow,” said Kevin Parker, Commander of the Special Events Unit for Austin-Travis County EMS.
This is Commander Parker’s 17th year as a paramedic. He says their specialized medics on motorcycles will help as tens of thousands descend on the stadium.
“They can move in between barricades and move in between closely parked cars. They can traverse parking lots a lot easier than either a car or an SUV like I have, or a full-sized ambulance,” said Parker.
They’ll dedicate 17 people to DKR for the game with the unit. The goal is to not to short change resources in the rest of the city.
“The people who are staying at home, watching the game at home. Our goal is to keep the ambulance that serves that neighborhood in that station available for them,” said Parker.
Drinking is key to staying hydrated but not drinking alcohol, tailgaters.
Commander Parker says it is essential to drink water and drinks with electrolytes like Powerade and Gatorade.