Emergency departments in the Northside Hospital system are seeing an increase in patients with heat-related illnesses.
The number of patients with heat-related illnesses is up about 20% since the start of a heatwave a week earlier, Dr. Doug Olson told WSB Channel 2 on Wednesday, June 25.
Dr. Olson, who works in the Emergency Department at Northside Hospital Forsyth, said the first symptoms are muscle cramps, followed by heat exhaustion.
“The mortality rate is very high from heatstroke,” Dr. Olson said. “Time is of the essence.”
During times of extreme high temperatures, it’s important to limit outdoor work when possible to early morning or late evening, drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and increase the number of rest breaks.
Check out tips for avoiding heat exhaustion.
