MODESTO, Calif. — With temperatures soaring past 100 most of the afternoon, a splash pad in Modesto was the place to be for Hannah Hieti and her kids Thursday.
"It's too hot to just play, so the splash pad is where it's at," said Hieti. "It definitely has picked up in the last half hour, 45 minutes here."
While the water really started getting crowded after noon, the Modesto Senior Citizen's Center was busy all day. Some people opted to come for lunch, but stay for the A/C. The center is one of Modesto's five cooling zones.
With the intense level of heat lasting for so many days, hospitals across Stanislaus County have also been getting busy.
The County's Health Services Agency said 72 people were treated at hospitals for heat-related illnesses between July 2 and July 8. At least six others were also treated for similar illnesses on Wendedsay alone.
"A lot of issues that we saw were amongst people that had chronic medical conditions," said Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Public Information Officer Kamlesh Kaur. "A lot of people who we also saw in the emergency rooms... they were also either working out in the fields or in environments, warehouses, that have extreme heat."
Kaur also said that last week, alcohol mixed in with the scorching temperatures led to health issues as well.
"Avoid drinking alcohol and sugary beverages when it's really hot outside," Kaur said. "Drinking lots of water is the best way to go... Wear loose-fitting, lighter clothes, drink lots of water and stay in cooler areas."
Kamlesh said if you start experiencing dizziness, vomiting, headaches, confusion, and lots of thirst, it could mean that it’s time to head for the shade and drink water.
"If your symptoms get worse, reach out to your healthcare provider to seek assistance," Kaur said. "This weather, hopefully, we'll get a break from it soon."
Hieti and her kids hope for a cool down soon too, but for now, they’re carrying all the essentials like water, snacks and sunscreen around while trying to stay cool.
"Stay hydrated even when you’re out playing in the water, make sure you’re still drinking water," Hietei said.
Watch more from ABC10: California's Intense Heat Wave: When does this end? | Forecast
