As we’re still amid the hazy days of summer, Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency emphasizes the importance of acknowledging heat-related illnesses.

Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says there are the less serious kinds of illnesses like heat cramps, sunburn, and heat rash, which can lead to more serious illness like heat exhaustion, “Heat exhaustion, that’s affecting persons they’re going to experience heavy sweating, weakness, they may appear to have pale or clammy skin or be cold. Usually their pulse gets a little bit more rapid and things like that and they can still have a normal body temperature.”

Kempf advises those experiencing those symptoms to move to a cool place, loosen your clothes, place cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath, and take sips of water. If not addressed these symptoms could worsen and lead to heat stroke, which involves vomiting, passing out, a high body temperature, and a fast, strong pulse. In that situation you should call 911, move the person to a cooler place, apply cool cloths or take a cool bath, and do not give the person anything to drink.