Haze, Humidity and History: 102 Degrees

On the Mall, trees bordering the open area provided a bit of protection from the pitiless sun, but visitors to the National World War II Memorial, many of them elderly veterans and their families, were at the sun's mercy. The temperature at the concrete heart of the memorial reached 103 degrees in midafternoon. Several visitors took just a few steps before needing to seek out a patch of shade.

A 26-year-old intern from South America collapsed after walking to the White House yesterday afternoon, fire officials said. Medics gave her intravenous fluids and transported her to George Washington University Hospital.

In Colonial Williamsburg, faux colonists were hard at work -- though they banked their fires in kitchens and the blacksmith shop -- but hardworking horses got a break. Carriage rides were canceled.

It was, of course, a Code Orange day, signifying unhealthful air quality for the elderly, the young and those with special needs.

Government officials were clearly worried about the impact.

The city of Manassas is expected to ask residents to conserve water today because of steadily dropping reservoir levels in Lake Manassas. Voluntary water conservation -- curtailing lawn watering or car washing, for example -- is a precursor to mandatory conservation, officials said.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to ask Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to designate the county a drought disaster area. That would give county farmers the ability to request federal drought relief. The Prince William Food and Agriculture Council reported that the area's 28,800 acres of crops are expected to suffer more than $1.6 million in losses this year.

Prince George's County health officials are launching an education campaign with tips on coping in brutal temperatures. Two cooling stations were opened this week.

"The key to beating the heat is respecting the heat," said Donald Shell, chief health officer for Prince George's.

Shell said that there are clear signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke, including confusion and disorientation. The person also may stop sweating. "The only problem with the signs is that the individual may not recognize it themselves," he said.

Shell said about five people have died because of the heat this summer, though none in recent days. He said the key is monitoring. "We advise a buddy system where people like the elderly will not be alone," he said.

The heat wave is turning out to be one for the record books.