OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – “When it gets this hot, a lot of people get heatstroke,” said Dr. Eric Earnest of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, explaining the effects of the heat on the body.
“You'll know you're losing a lot of fluid if you start to sweat a lot. If you start to feel dizzy, nauseous, or upset stomach. If you have chest pains, shortness of breath, that's a given.”
These are all signs of heatstroke, and children are the most vulnerable, he said.
“Young children, especially, often don't have the same ability to express themselves when they're experiencing symptoms of heatstroke.”
This affects seniors. And it affects people who have to get out. For example, bus stops. Of the 2,100 Metro Transit stops in Omaha and Council Bluffs, only 107 stops are covered.
People who work or live outdoors are also at risk.
“Depending on the severity of the symptoms, recovery can take a very long time,” Ernest says.
The Open Door Mission helped homeless people. They handed out water, Gatorade and food to dozens of people, two of whom accepted their offer and took shelter in their home.
6 News reached out to area hospitals, five people were seen at the Nebraska Medical Center and 17 people went to the CHI Health emergency department for health-related illnesses.
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