Health Officials Urge Caution During Heat Wave

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While southwest Michigan swelters this weekend under an excessive heat warning, the Berrien County Health Department reminds everyone to be careful and watch out for others. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News you should wear loose clothing, don’t stay outside for too long, and seek out air conditioning.

“We do recommend folks are checking on their friends and their neighbors, especially if you have elderly neighbors,” Conrad said. “There are lots of places in our community that you can always go to to cool off if you don’t have air conditioning at home, like shopping malls, the library. You could just go to Meijer and walk around. They’re air conditioned.”

Conrad reminds everyone to never leave pets or kids in a parked car. She says the warning signs for heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, and cool or moist skin. More serious is heat stroke, which comes with red and dry skin, a throbbing headache, dizziness, and nausea. In those cases, medical attention is required.