Dallas County Health and Human Services on Thursday reported the county's second heat-related death so far this year.

DCHHS says the Dallas resident was a 77-year-old man who had underlying health conditions. For privacy reasons, DCHHS is not disclosing personal information about the patient.

"We are very saddened to report our second heat-related death this season," said Dr. Philip Huang, Director of DCHHS. "We encourage everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and their children from heat-related illness as temperatures remain high throughout the summer. Hydrate constantly and limit your time outdoors to protect against the intense heat."

DCHHS says heat-related illness occurs when the body is unable to properly cool itself. They also say to monitor symptoms and follow the CDC tips for heat-related illness prevention below:

To learn more and for more tips, visit the CDC's website.

The Dallas County Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program provides free air conditioning and heating units to low-income families who qualify.

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It's a year-round program for heating and cooling, and also covers electric bills.

Go online for details or call 214-819-1848 for assistance.