Temperatures on Tuesday will once again pass 90 degrees with an Excessive Heat warning in effect through at least Friday.
Temperatures will be flirting with 100 degrees or more by the end of the week.
No relief is expected until Saturday when some thunderstorms could knock daytime highs down to the upper 80s.
UPMC Chair of Emergency Medicine Dr Don Yealy says the high temperatures can be especially dangerous for the elderly or people with underlying medical conditions.
He says the its important to check in on neighbors, especially the elderly that may have preexisting conditions.
It’s also important to hydrate with water, even before you feel thirsty.
If you work outside, you’re encouraged to take frequent breaks and find shade when possible.
Pay attention to the first signs of heat illness like nausea or headaches.
“As things get more severe you may have difficulty with thinking, you may have more pain in extremities and the worst part would be essentially losing consciousness, that doesn’t happen right way, if you pay attention to the early things, you can avoid the more severe things,” said Dr. Yealy.
It’s also important to keep an eye on your pets. Dr. Mike Hutchinson of Animal General in Cranberry Township says having your pet outside too long does become a concern.
Outdoor activity should be limited to short, shaded potty breaks.
“You want to make sure they have plenty of shade, plenty of fresh water at all times and please don’t take them into your cars, do not leave them in your cars,” said Dr. Mike. “Leaving the air conditioning on isn’t enough unfortunately, even the police have multiple alarms that go off when that temperature starts to go up inside their cars, they don’t depend on just one, so we shouldn’t either.”
Experts say if your dog needs to go out, stick to the coolest parts of the day, such as early mornings (before 8 AM) or late evenings.
