Md. reports 13th heat-related death

Maryland health officials Wednesday reported the state's 13th heat-related death this year.

Officials said the person was a Baltimore County resident, over age 65, who had serious underlying health conditions. She was discovered in her residence during the first week of July when temperatures topped 100 degrees for three consecutive days. The temperature in her home was above 100 degrees, officials said.

With weather forecasts calling for long stretches of 90 degree plus weather beginning this week, state health officials are urging residents to stay out of the heat, drink plenty of fluids, and pay attention to the warning signs of heat-related distress, such as heavy sweating, muscle pain, headaches or nausea.

The heat-related deaths reported so far this summer are now more than double the number of such deaths in 2009, when six people in Maryland died from heat-related illnesses..

-- Lena Sun