In July 1995, a scorching heat wave blasted Chicago with temperatures as high as 106 F (41 C) for five days straight. Such extreme weather can cause heat stroke and even death in vulnerable individuals; in fact, heat waves kill more people in the United States each year than any other kind of natural disaster. How would residents of Chicago survive the relentless heat? Eyewitness accounts and incredible photos bring to life the experiences of ordinary people who faced catastrophic danger-and lived to tell their stories. Kids will discover the causes and characteristics of heat waves and find out how hot weather can quickly turn deadly. Safety tips show young readers how to stay cool during a heat wave.