PEORIA, Ill. – Temperatures are expected to be in the 90’s all week, and close to 100 in a few days, with it feeling much hotter than that outside.
So do you know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
In short, heat exhaustion can LEAD to heat stroke, so a local doctor says preventing heat exhaustion is important.
“Drink plenty of liquids, avoiding kind of dehydrating liquids – so caffeinated beverages, alcohol, especially,” says OSF HealthCare Vice President of Clinical Specialty Services, Doctor Brian Curtis. “If it’s going to be really hot, don’t do that. Drink water…Gatorades, Powerades. Take frequent breaks. Get in to the shade, if you can.”
Curtis, says heat exhaustion can also happen while inside buildings, if there is not enough cooling going on inside.
“If you get into the mid or upper 90s, we have some people around here who still don’t have air conditioning. You can get heat exhaustion and heat stroke within a building,” Dr. Curtis says. “When people don’t have air conditioning, that’s when you really see a lot of the elderly develop heat exhaustion within their own homes.”
Cooling centers are available at every Peoria Fire Station between 7:00 a.m. and 10 p.m., unless the station is out on an emergency call. The Peoria Police station lobby is available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. In East Peoria, the East Side Centre is available Monday-Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The East Peoria Civic Plaza is available from Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Curtis says the elderly and children are most susceptible to heat-related illness.
“Because they don’t heat and cool themselves as easily, they’re more prone to get it, and we tend to be more vigilant with them,” said Curtis.
HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS PREVENTION TIPS:
– Drink plenty of liquids (water, fruit juice, sports drinks)
– Avoid dehydrating liquids like alcohol and caffeinated beverages
– Take frequent breaks
– Get out of the sun and into the shade
– Use sunscreen and avoid getting sunburnt
– Use the buddy system: Keep an eye on each other
(Source: OSF HealthCare)
Heat will build over the next several days as high pressure overspreads the Midwest. Expect high temperatures warming into the mid to upper 90s by midweek, warmest Thursday and Friday when heat indices could exceed 105. #ilwx pic.twitter.com/UJTifKkNVb
— NWS Lincoln IL (@NWSLincolnIL) July 24, 2023
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