SAGINAW, MI (WNEM) -
The heat is beating down on more and more people each day, and emergency rooms around Mid-Michigan are seeing the impacts of this July heat spell.
Several local hospitals, including Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw, say the number of people checking in with dehydration or other heat-related illnesses is up.
"It's a lot hotter this summer than usual, so we are seeing more people with these types of symptoms," said Dr. Heather Merrill, an emergency room doctor at Covenant Healthcare.
Merrill says she's seeing an influx of people come in with heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. She says it's important to know the warning signs.
"Some of the more severe signs to watch for would be confusion, fainting or abnormal behavior, and at that point, you want to get them in the emergency room right away," said Merrill.
She says the young and old are most at risk with the high temperatures, but everybody needs to be aware of the warning signs before their situation turns dangerous or even deadly.
"Everybody needs to stay cool, stay hydrated, stay out of the sun, keep an eye on your loved ones, with the elderly and young especially," Merrill said.
She said there's four key things you can do to keep yourself and your family safe:
- Drink lots of water and stay hydrated.
- Stay away from caffeine and alcohol.
- Stay out of direct sunlight.
- Do what you can do to stay cool.
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