LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - With extreme heat on its way, it's important to remember how to stay safe in the high temperatures.
Local health officials are urging people to take the threat seriously. With temperatures forecast to be in the 90s for the next five or six days, and heat index values expected to rise above 100 degrees, it is critical to know the warning signs, how to stay safe, and how to keep those around you safe.
"There's heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is when your body's temperature just isn't being regulated quite correctly. You can get tired, weak, maybe a little nausea, vomiting... but then it progresses to heat stroke. That's when you see someone have slurred speech, they get confused, maybe even pass out or have a seizure... and that fever temperature can go up to 104 or higher. So that becomes, really, a medical emergency," said Dr. Susan Kaufman, chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs at Lima Memorial Health System.
If someone is showing signs of heat stroke, call 911 immediately. Even heat exhaustion can escalate quickly, so don’t wait too long to seek medical care.
Stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothes, and avoid outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.
People with health conditions are at greater risk, as are pregnant women and those taking certain medications, which can affect the body's ability to regulate heat.
Finally, be sure to check on friends, family, and neighbors — especially the elderly, young children, or anyone with health challenges.
