With the mercury expected to reach the 90s and the heat index soaring near 100 later this week, physicians at the Cook County Health & Hospitals System urge you to take extra measures to stay cool. “When we sweat in high heat and humidity, evaporation slows and the body has to work harder to maintain a normal temperature,” said Emergency Department physician Dr. Robert Feldman. “Your best defense against heat-related illness is prevention.” Dr. Feldman suggests avoiding overexertion and strenuous outdoor activities. If you must be outdoors, wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible to prevent sunburn. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. Consume plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids. Dr. Feldman encourages relatives and friends to make daily visits or calls to senior citizens living alone. On a hot day the temperature inside a car can reach unsafe limits in just minutes. Early signs of heat exhaustion include:

• Thirst
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Cold and clammy feeling, while still sweating

Without proper intervention, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke. Symptoms include:

• Hot and flushed skin, but no sweating
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Unable to walk in straight line
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Rapid pulse
• Potential loss of consciousness