The Peoria area is riding into the week on a heat wave, with heat indices potentially reaching over 100 degrees through Thursday.
Those kinds of temperatures can pose a health risk to anyone, but especially young kids and seniors. Dr. David Tennant is a family medicine physician at Carle Health Proctor in Peoria. He says it's important to recognize when our bodies are telling us things might be a little too hot to handle.
"Fatigue, if you're getting a little dizzy is another one. Sometimes we can get some swelling, both in ourselves and the people around us. Those are the early warning signs, when you're able to take care of yourself," he said.
Tennant says a heat index of 100 degrees is roughly the point it's time to take extra precautions, but it's not an exact science. He says it's more important to watch out for the signs.
"It's kind of like a you know it when you see it sort of thing," he said. "When it gets too hot that you have to go out there and take precautions, whether you go outside at all, and if you do, be prepared to stay hydrated and cool down, either indoors or in the shade."
When signs of heat exhaustion take hold, he says it's important to move to somewhere cool and hydrate. And it's time for someone to call 911 if the tell-tale neurological symptoms of heat stroke set in.
