With another heat wave predicted, Aurora hospitals advising residents to take caution and stay hydrated – Chicago Tribune

After the Fox Valley saw temperatures in the high 90s last week, and with the forecast calling for more scorching weather beginning Monday, officials at Auroras hospitals are advising residents to take caution and stay hydrated.

Both Rush Copley Medical Center and Ascension Mercy in Aurora saw cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke due to the recent hot weather, officials said.

At Ascension Mercy, Tom Caraballo, medical director for the emergency department, said they were seeing four to five people a day in the ER with heat-related issues during the hot spell.

He said the situation often starts with heat exhaustion, with people feeling tired, lightheaded and dizzy, before moving to heat stroke, where patients are often confused and can lose consciousness.

A high in the mid-90s is predicted for Monday and 98 degrees on Tuesday in Aurora.

Caraballo said the heat is particularly dangerous for elderly people, but he also sees small children impacted because they are outside, often playing sports during the summer.

When someone arrives at the hospital, medical staff tries to cool them down as soon as possible by giving them fluids, getting them in wet clothes and wet towels and using ice packs, Caraballo said.

Heat-related illness can develop in less than 30 minutes of strenuous outdoor activity. Caraballo recommends people who are outside drink water and jump in a pool or take a cold shower if needed.

If you start having really bad weakness, lightheadedness and nausea or vomiting, you should go to the hospital, Caraballo said. If you are at all concerned, you can err on the side of caution and come. The biggest thing is not to wait too long because the sooner we catch it, the easier it is to treat.

In Will County, a 33-year-old man died from possible heat exposure during the heat wave last week, the Will County Coroners Office said.

The biggest thing is just to be aware of it, Caraballo said. A lot of people think being in Chicago, it only happens in Florida, but it still gets pretty hot up here and we have to be mindful.

mejones@chicagotribune.com

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With another heat wave predicted, Aurora hospitals advising residents to take caution and stay hydrated - Chicago Tribune