In the United States, between 175 and 200 people die because of heat waves. Last year 94 Americans lost their lives due to heat related events. During the Dust Bowl summer of 1936, heat records were set and 15,000 people perished. Nearly 9,500 heat-related deaths were recorded in the Midwest during the summer of 1901 and even with the implementation of air conditioning, 1,250 people died during the heat-wave of 1980. In 1988, 10,000 heat-related fatalities occurred nationally and on July 13, 1995, 500 deaths were reported in Chicago with 4,000 head of livestock killed by heat stress in one day. We won't have record heat this weekend but with the daytime highs at 97 degrees and the relative humidity range above 50% the index will jump to 105 and 110 degrees. The index originated years ago with the United States Army to determine the human body's response to hot conditions. Las Vegas holds the consistent record for the most consecutive days of 110 degrees.