MILWAUKEE — With the excessive heat warnings in place across the state recently, it is important to stay safe in the extreme heat. Ascension Wisconsin Emergency Room physician, Chris Ford MD, talked with Spectrum News about some of the precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
According to Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services, summer heat waves have been the biggest weather-related killers in Wisconsin for more than 50 years. The CDC, estimates every year, more than 1200 people in the U.S. die of heat-related illness and many more are hospitalized.
The best way to avoid heat illness is through prevention:
- Stay in air conditioning
- Check on loved ones
- Avoid the hottest part of the day
- Beware of hot cars
- Stay hydrated
- Stay informed
Some factors that might increase your risk of developing a heat-related illness include:
- High levels of humidity
- Obesity
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Prescription drug use
- Heart disease and other chronic conditions
- A person’s age (very young and older adults)
- Pregnancy
- Mental illness
- Poor circulation
- Sunburn
- Alcohol use
Watch the full interview with Ford above.