With the summer temperatures breaking out for the month of June, University Health is taking steps to handle overheating emergencies.
University Health is a six-to 10-minute drive from the World Cup’s FIFA Fan Festival on the grounds of the National World War I Museum and Memorial and is preparing to see heat-related illnesses from it.
The free Fan Festival intends to be “the heart of the game,” bringing performances, live game screenings and more on 18 select days during the World Cup.
| REGISTER: Smart tools, strategic choices: EMS puts AI into action
About 1 in 3 World Cup matches are expected to have dangerously hot conditions, according to an NPR report.
The report said only one game in Kansas City will have a minimal heat illness risk. On June 27 , the Austria versus Algeria game will have a mean temperature of 71.6 degrees.
The highest projected temperatures will be June 25 at the Netherlands versus Tunisia game, with the average temperature standing at 78.8 degrees and a high heat illness risk. The rest of the games in Kansas City have a moderate heat illness risk, NPR reported.
“As always, we recommend staying extremely hydrated when you’re outside in the heat, limit alcohol intake, and then also take time to get in cool areas and out of the heat,” said Dr. Travis Helberg , University Health emergency medicine specialist.
If experiencing heat illness, Helberg recommends, firstly, calling 911 for medical help. To help the conditions, he recommends going to a cool area, removing excess loose clothing, and using water on the neck and head to cool the body.
“We just don’t recommend forcefully putting water into a patient’s mouth when they’re unconscious,” Helberg said.
Heat-related illnesses, or hyperthermia, are on a spectrum ranging from heat rash, exhaustion and stroke. Any body temperature above 98.6 degrees counts as hyperthermia. Extreme hyperthermia is when the body reaches temperatures greater than 104 degrees; it can trigger heat stroke. Common symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, difficulty ambulating, collapse and even seizures.
Heat illness is most effectively treated by immersion in ice water. University Health providers use cooling bags, ice and water to treat individuals experiencing hyperthermia with a technique called cold water immersion.
“The primary goal is to cool them as aggressively as possible down to an appropriate temperature,” Helberg said.
The cold water immersion technique is done by professionals after measuring body temperature and finding an individual is experiencing hyperthermia. The patient is then placed into a cooling bag, which is then filled with ice and water, around 1 to 5 degrees, and agitated by providers to cool the whole body.
Alcohol consumption affects one’s ability to stay hydrated and can complicate matters. But this technique can still be used to cool inebriated patients, Helberg said.
| WATCH: Heat exhaustion vs. exertional hyponatremia: Spot the signs
©2026 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.