Residents Reminded To Stay Safe Amid Deadly Summer Heat Wave

DETROIT (WWJ) - With temperatures in the state reaching nearly 100 degrees this week and through the weekend, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reminding all residents to stay safe and cool to beat the heat.

Daily temperatures this week are anticipated to rise above 90 degrees, which generally correlates with an increase in emergency department visits for heat-related illness including dehydration, sunburn, and heat exhaustion.

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory in effect for all of the WWJ Newsradio 950 listening area including Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb,  Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties — in effect from 1 p.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Friday.

"It's important that all residents take the hot weather into consideration in their daily activities. Stay hydrated and out of the sun as much possible to avoid serious health complications," Nick Lyon, director of MDHHS, said in a statement. "We know that vulnerable populations are at increased risk for heat-related illness, so be sure to frequently check on young children, older adults, and others in your community who may need additional assistance."

To prevent complications from the heat, residents are encouraged to drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), avoid liquids with large amounts of sugar, spend time indoors (if possible in air conditioned places), and to wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. For those without access to air conditioning, contact your local health department to find out if there is a cooling center nearby.

In addition to staying hydrated and out of the sun, residents are reminded to never leave children or pets alone in a car even with the windows cracked. Temperatures inside a car can easily be double the temperature outside, and because a child's body heats up three to five times faster than an adult's, they are more susceptible to heatstroke.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are both forms of heat-related illness. Signs of heat-related illness vary but may include: heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fainting, an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F) and tiredness. Heatstroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature, and can result in death if not treated promptly.

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