Cancun Red Cross Treats 6 for Heat-Related Illnesses Amid Heat Index of 40°C

Cancun, Quintana Roo — The Mexican Red Cross in Cancun has treated six people this month for heat-related exhaustion, the organization’s state director said Wednesday, as soaring temperatures push the heat index to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

Amílcar Galaviz Aguilar, the Red Cross director for Quintana Roo, urged residents and visitors to take extra precautions against heatstroke, especially in the northern part of the state.

While none of the patients treated locally were in critical condition, Galaviz warned that the current weather conditions sharply increase the risk of severe dehydration.

Thermometers in the region typically range from 32°C to 34°C, but the heat index — which combines temperature and humidity — reaches 40°C, he said. Children under five, adults over 60, and outdoor workers are most vulnerable.

According to the state Health Department’s latest epidemiological report, as of July 22, Quintana Roo has recorded 40 serious heat-related incidents and two confirmed deaths — one in Cancun and one in Playa del Carmen. The breakdown includes:

• Heatstroke: 25 cases
• Dehydration: 8 cases
• Sunburn: 7 cases
• Fatalities: 2

The Red Cross recommends staying hydrated with water or oral rehydration salts, avoiding sugary, alcoholic, or caffeinated drinks, and limiting sun exposure between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when solar radiation is strongest.

Authorities also emphasized never leaving children or pets inside parked vehicles, as internal temperatures can rise dangerously within minutes.

Warning signs of heat-related emergencies include severe headache, nausea, confusion, hot red skin, fever, and — in infants — crying without tears. In case of these symptoms, officials urge immediate medical attention or a call to emergency services.