By Michelle Baker

This year is projected to be the world’s hottest ever recorded, as June was the 12th straight month that the world was 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than pre-industrial times, according to the European climate service Copernicus. 

In Reno, the fastest warming city in the nation, temperatures are 5-10 degrees hotter than the same time last year, according to the National Weather Service. Heat waves can be deadly, particularly for older adults and those who have to work, or live, outside.

As the current heat wave continues in northern Nevada, local authorities are encouraging people to take advantage of cooling centers around town. Washoe County has set up cooling centers for community members during this latest heat wave, but for those with pets, excessive heat warnings are proving to be an issue for those without resources to escape the heat. 

The Washoe County Library System remains a public place for people to cool down during the day. Both the Nevada Cares Campus Resource Center and Washoe County Senior Center have opened their doors to anyone needing to relax in the air conditioning. 

The Resource Center, located at 600 Line Dr., is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and offers indoor air-conditioned seating, water, meals, restrooms and laundry facilities for those who do not have shelter. 

Washoe County Senior Services is extending their hours from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., two hours later than normal, for anyone who needs to cool down. While services offered are strictly for seniors, the public building is open to all. They have filtered water stations, ice machines and are playing movies throughout the day. 

The front office staff said they have seen an influx of community members using their building over the last few days, as many senior citizens live on fixed incomes and cannot afford to run their air conditioning units. 

There is a shuttle service from the Cares Campus to Washoe County Senior Services during the week. Only service animals are allowed in the building. 

The county is also giving away free fans to seniors while supplies last. Anyone over age 60 is eligible to receive one free fan per season. Participants are required to fill out a short survey. For residents, seniors or the unhoused community with dogs, the options to cool down are limited, as these cooling centers have requirements for pets, or don’t allow them at all. Downtown Reno Ambassadors have encouraged people to go to Wingfield Park to find respite from the heat. 

“What’s comfortable for you is not going to be the same for your dog.”

According to the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading causes of weather related deaths. Young children, seniors, pregnant people and those who have ongoing medical conditions are more vulnerable to heat exhaustion.

“The biggest risks of dehydration are the subsequent imbalances that occur in the body systems and these risks increase with the amount of heat encountered, the duration of heat exposure, and any underlying problems or medications which may increase dehydration,” Chief Medical Officer for Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Dr. Reka Danko, said. “For those who have underlying medical conditions or take certain medications, the fluid balance of the body may be even more delicate and discussing how to stay hydrated is important with a healthcare clinician,” she said.

Signs of heat exhaustion include dizziness, thirst, heavy sweating, nausea and weakness. If symptoms don’t improve within an hour, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends seeking immediate medical attention.  

Pets need to remain cool

Washoe County Regional Animal Services Field Supervisor Heidi Mittelstaedt said that monitoring pets for signs of heat distress is imperative to their health through the summer months.

“What’s comfortable for you is not going to be the same for your dog,” Mittelstaedt said. 

Signs of excessive heat exposure in pets include excessive panting, lethargy and hypersalivation, which can be treated by providing a cooler environment for pets, slowly adding a cold cloth to their body or adding ice cubes to their water. Pets should be taken to a vet immediately if they show signs of heat exhaustion, such as becoming immobile.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls, for dogs in particular, left unattended in vehicles in the sun, in the hot weather.” 

In June, WCRAS received 165 calls for animals left in hot vehicles, a “significant increase” compared to past years, WCRAS Program Coordinator Quinn Sweet said. 

Mittelstaedt said that bringing a pet in the car to run errands can quickly take a dangerous turn. One pet has already died this summer due to being left inside of a hot car. 

“Even in 10 minutes, your car can heat up so quickly that your pet can be in heat distress. We’ve already had one pet die this summer and we haven’t even hit peak summer heat yet.” 

Mittelstaedt said that during periods of excessive heat, pet owners should consider visiting places with accessible water for your pets to cool off. Because dogs and cats don’t have the ability to sweat like humans do, they have a harder time sustaining a normal body temperature during the summer months.  

She recommended that pet owners plan to bring pets out earlier in the morning or late at night when the temperatures are cooler. 

Algal blooms also pose threats

High temperatures can lead to algal blooms in water bodies. After this video went viral on TikTok where user anaisfelt detailed the tragic death of her dog after visiting beaches in South Lake Tahoe, locals and visitors were worried about leading their pets to waters contaminated by algae. 

The City of South Lake Tahoe posted on Facebook that it collected water samples and should have results within the next few days. The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board most recently tested the water at several beaches in South Lake on 6/11/24 and received no indication that there were toxins in the water. In the interim, signs are posted at El Dorado Beach warning beachgoers that harmful algae may be present.

According to Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Public Information Officer Jenny Jackson, Lake Tahoe isn’t typically a place that people need to be worried about because its cooler temperatures and rate of water flow don’t create the right conditions for a harmful algal bloom (HAB). 

“Normally we see [HABs] in warmer water that’s stagnant,” she said. 

According to the HAB monitoring program overview, participating state agencies visually monitor water bodies during the typical months of recreation. While the agencies do have staff that sample water throughout the state, these agencies don’t have the resources to test every day. 

Because of this, Jackson said that they rely on the community to report if they see something alarming while recreating. As of July 10, the HAB dashboard shows there are four bodies of water in Nevada where hazardous conditions are likely present—Eagle Valley Reservoir, Lahontan Reservoir, Virginia and Washoe Lakes. 

Jackson said that people and pets that are immunocompromised are more susceptible to being harmed by HABs. Pets are particularly more susceptible to the toxins physiologically, because they’re likely to drink the water while swimming, as well as ingesting any present algae by licking the water off of their coats.