For the duration of Monday morning, Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is offering complimentary bottled water on Ride On buses due to a Heat Emergency Alert. With heat index readings predicted to hit 105 degrees or higher, the initiative attempts to keep travelers safe and hydrated during dangerously high temperatures.
Per MCDOT: As temperatures rise across Montgomery County, the Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is helping riders stay safe and hydrated. For the convenience of its passengers, MCDOT has provided free water bottles on Ride On buses due to this weekend’s heat advisory, while supplies last. Water was added to the buses as a preventative step to guarantee the passengers’ health. The goal of MCDOT Ride On is to keep you active and rejuvenated. Watch careful for the water that is placed in front of the buses. To ensure that we can serve as many riders as possible, please bring one water bottle per participant.
Because to the National Weather Service’s prediction of highly dangerous temperatures and heat index values, the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security has issued a Heat Emergency Alert that will last from Friday, July 25, until 8 a.m. on Monday, July 28. In the afternoon, residents should be ready for heat index values, which indicate how hot it feels, to rise to 105 degrees.
When the temperature or heat index is predicted to be 105 degrees or above for two days or more, a Heat Emergency Alert is issued. Even though it will be colder at night, prolonged exposure to them can still be harmful to one’s health.
Severe heat impairs the body’s capacity to control its temperature, which can lead to hazardous situations if proper precautions are not followed. The elderly, young people, and those with underlying medical disorders may be more affected by heat, which can also have an effect on air quality, particularly in urban areas.
Dizziness, nausea, headaches, painful muscle cramps or spasms, pale or flushed skin that may be chilly or moist, and weakness in the early stages are all signs of heat-related disorders. In severe situations, residents should call 911 right away to get medical help if they experience red, hot, dry skin, a weak pulse, rapid breathing, or changes in consciousness.
For passengers on Montgomery County Ride On, extRa, Flex, and Flash buses, free bottled water will be provided on the buses. Bus timetables can be found on the Ride On Trip Planner app and the MCDOT website.
about X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, passengers can follow @RideOnMCT for the most recent information about bus services. Information can also be found at rideonbus.com, by texting MONTGOMERY RIDEON to 62463 to receive text notifications, or by signing up to receive email updates. Rates for messages and data may apply. The frequency of messages varies. For assistance or to contact [email protected], respond HELP; to cancel, reply STOP. For additional information, see Montgomery County’s Wireless Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Visit MontgomeryCountyMd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook, and sign up for MCDOT’s Go Montgomery! newsletter for more details on the agency’s services and programs.
