Area hospitals have confirmed that a handful of people in the Quad Cities were treated with heat-related illnesses during Monday’s scorcher.
A spokesperson from Genesis Medical Centers said seven people came into emergency rooms because of the heat on August 25, 2014. Trinity confirmed that one patient was treated under their care.
Symptoms of the patients treated included nausea, vomiting, and light headedness, according to a Genesis spokesperson. None of the patients were seriously ill.
Several area counties were under a heat advisory from noon until 8 p.m. Monday. Temperatures reached 93 degrees; not far off from the record 97 set in 2007.
Medical experts say you should take it easy and do not overexert yourself in the heat. Protect yourself and your relatives, neighbors, and friends by checking on them and making sure you stay hydrated with non-alcoholic beverages.
Also, keep in mind that temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach more than 140 degrees in just minutes. Never leave anyone or any pets inside a vehicle, for any period of time, said the director of Lee County’s Emergency Management Agency.
If you are overcome by the heat, you are advised to move to a shaded area and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
For those who don’t have a place to cool off, Geneses has made the cafeterias of three area hospitals into cooling centers.
The three cooling centers will be open Tuesday, August 26, 2014 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. They are located at 1227 East Rusholme Street in Davenport, 1401 West Central Park Street in Davenport, and 801 Illini Drive in Silvis.