CALIFORNIA, USA — Northern California will be battling a wave of extreme heat as temperatures hit the triple digits.
Even though first official day of summer is less than two weeks away, the scorching temperatures have already hit the Sacramento area, and it's expected to get even hotter over the next few days.
Dr. Katie Baker, medical director for Mercy Hospital in Folsom, said their Emergency Room has already gotten busy.
"Here in Sacramento, we start to get warm pretty early, and so we've definitely been seeing patients with heat exposure," Dr. Baker said.
An excessive heat watch goes into effect on Friday through the valley and toward the coast. Several cooling centers have opened up in response to the extreme heat.
Dr. Baker said that people who are under four years old and over 65 years old are the most susceptible to the heat, but anyone can still be impacted.
"I think we can all be affected by these extreme temperatures and have to take caution," Dr. Baker said.
The rise in temperature also brings the potential for heat-related illnesses. To avoid that, Baker said its important to drink plenty of water and limit exposure over the next few days. She also recommended going for a walk or run early in the morning before things start to heat up.
"Really try to avoid that middle of the day, that hottest part where we're really more susceptible to heat," she said.
She suggested wearing sunscreen, loose-fitting clothes, hats and something that can offer shade from the son.
While it might seem obvious to some, Dr. Baker emphasized the importance of not leaving pets or children unattended in a car, even for a few minutes.
"It gets a lot hotter in a car than what you realize. Once you stepped out of your car that was on and then with the windows up and no air movement, it can be deadly," she said.
Warning signs for heat exhaustion include the following:
- Dizziness
- Heavy sweating
- Nausea
The symptoms of heat stroke are as follows:
- High body temperature
- Absence of sweating
- Difficulty breathing
Those experiencing heat stroke symptoms should seek medical treatment immediately.
"It's important to not let it get to that point because at that point, it's definitely a more serious condition," Dr. Baker said.
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