Non-profit works to protect people in downtown Nashville for 4th of July celebration

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The 4th of July is one of the most exciting times of the year.

Downtown Nashville is expected to host thousands of people during the city's annual celebration. As the summer heat has grown more intense, heat exhaustion has grown to be a great concern among first responders.

Temperatures in Nashville reached as high as 99 degrees on Thursday. That made it Nashville's third hottest 4th of July temperature in recorded history.

Heat alerts continue with storms increasing through Friday

Red Frogs USA is a non-profit organization working to help keep people safe while they celebrate. They have a tent located next to the Nashville Walk of Fame Park. National Director Dan Terry is leading a group of volunteers that will work to help people stay hydrated.

"Ninety-nine percent of the time, you're going to have a great time, but there is that one percent chance that something could go wrong," Terry said. "That's the thing about Red Frogs: we exist to be early intervention."

One of Red Frogs USA's main initiatives is to provide water with the goal of preventing heat illness . During June's CMA Fest , which the organization also worked, they handed out more than 30,000 cups of water.

'It's all early intervention': Nonprofit to provide lifesaving resources at 4th of July celebration on Broadway

"When it comes to this heat, you don't realize that you get dehydrated so quickly," Terry said. "Particularly if you're drinking alcohol or you're not aware you need to make sure that you're drinking water."

Red Frogs USA plans to stay in Downtown Nashville until 11 p.m. on Thursday night.