Chesterfield County, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) -- Chesterfield Fire is advising people how to stay safe in extreme heat.
Captain Joe Harvey says that the number of medical emergency calls Chesterfield Fire & EMS receives increases sharply when the heat gets this high, and that a significant number of those calls are for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Harvey advises staying inside or in the shade as much as possible, and if working outdoors, doing so on a work/rest cycle. He also emphasized the importance of hydration and electrolyte intake in weather like this.
Anyone suffering heat exhaustion, according to Harvey, should get to a cool place and use cool liquids or ice to lower their body temperature back to normal levels. Ice can be applied under the arms, on the wrists, and in the groin area to quickly re-cool the body. Anyone suffering heat stroke -- where one stops sweating and their body loses control of temperature completely -- should seek medical attention.