HEAT WAVE - The National Weather Service has issued a HEAT ADVISORY in effect until 11am and an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING has also been issued and will remain in effect until 8pm. That means a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur. Hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely, things like heat exhaustion or deadly heat stroke.
Now we’ve had heat waves before and during our last bout of super-hot weather, we spoke with Dr. Todd Thoma, Coroner for Caddo Parish who is also an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport and explains the symptoms of a heat related illness.
"People will develop symptoms similar to the flu. They'll have headaches, body aches, sometimes you can eve mistake it for the flu; but it's not it's a heat-related illness."
Dr. Thoma explains there are some simple steps a person can take to prevent a heat-related illness.
"Things that can be done to prevent situations like that is to stay adequately hydrated, stay out of the direct heat. If you're going to exercise or do anything outdoors, do it very early in the morning or very late at night. Keep up with your fluids is very important, light-colored cotton clothing is important and recognizing the warning signs."
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, avoid sun exposure, and check up on relatives and neighbors, be sure your pets have plenty of shade and water. And always keep track of your kids. According to National Weather Service, of those heat-related deaths involving children in cars, 28% of those children entered unlocked cars on their own.
Click here for Child Safety Tips - Prevent Heat-Related Deaths