ST. GEORGE — Scorching heat and sizzling temperatures across the state — and particularly in Southern Utah — prompted a warning from physicians and care providers at Intermountain Health during a video conference Friday.

Medical experts warned that excessive heat can cause serious and potentially fatal health problems and outlined tips on how to survive the heat without a trip to the emergency room.

The excessive heat warnings currently in effect can wreak havoc on the body, resulting in dehydration, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses that could result in hospitalization or even death.

Dr. Patrick Carroll, medical director for Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, said the hospital has seen an uptick in patients with heat-related illnesses over the last week or so, primarily with symptoms that can range anywhere from heat exhaustion all the way up to heat stroke.

During hot weather, the body works to prevent overheating by sweating and redirecting blood flow to the skin, which means the heart must work harder than normal. This can cause problems for people with existing heart conditions.

An increase in sweating can lead to dehydration if fluid loss is not replaced by drinking enough and can cause weakness, confusion and fatigue.

Many of these heat-related health problems occur when the body becomes dehydrated, or when the body can’t cool down well enough to maintain a healthy temperature, which results in potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. They also can trigger sudden events like heart attack or stroke and can also worsen some existing conditions.

Carroll said excessive heat targets the most vulnerable populations — elderly, infants and children, as well as pregnant women — who are vulnerable to heat for slightly different reasons. He added that with both the elderly and the very young, there can be issues in communication as to how they are feeling or what they are experiencing. They may not be capable of sounding the alarm when they are overheating, and pregnancy causes significant changes to the woman’s body that can lower the body’s mechanisms needed to cool itself.

Taking extra precautions in sizzling temperatures can help residents stay cool and safe, Carroll said. And while emergency rooms across the state are seeing an increase in patient visits, there are sensible steps that can be taken to avoid unnecessary visits to the emergency room for heat exhaustion and heat-related illness.

The first step is to know the signs and symptoms of heat-related health problems and how to respond. Anyone experiencing mild symptoms, for example, should get out of the heat or direct sunlight right away. Even the shade of a tree will help, but ideally, Carroll said that going indoors where there’s air conditioning, or getting in the pool or a cold shower, is recommended, since cooling the body’s temperature as quickly as possible can vastly improve the outcome. 

Drinking plenty of water, at least 60-90 ounces daily, is vital, but soda is not effective when it comes to rehydration, nor is alcohol, as it can lead to increased urination and more dehydration. Also eating a proper diet and avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day are the simplest ways to avoid having problems — particularly with the current heat wave rolling through the region with triple-digit temperatures that rose as high as 118 degrees on Thursday.

“People can help to avoid unnecessary visits to the emergency room by staying hydrated and limiting the amount of time they spend outside in the middle of the day,” Carroll said.

In triple-digit temperatures, even being stuck outside of the car can be dangerous, and if someone is trapped inside, like a child or pet, for example, the risk of suffering illness or death is extremely high and it can also happen very quickly. Even if running into a store for a minute, “Never leave a child or a pet, or yourself, frankly, in a car,” he said.

He also cautioned parents to make sure their children are wearing sandals or some other type of footwear anytime they are outside since asphalt in extreme heat can cause serious burns and other direct-heat-related injuries.

“Don’t let your kids go out with bare feet. It will quickly blister the feet and cause heat-related injuries with contact with those hot surfaces,” Carroll said.

The same holds true for pets since the heat can cause burns and injuries to the bottom of their paws. 

He also recommended routinely checking on the elderly and other vulnerable populations to ensure loved ones are safe. If areas lose power, it’s critical to check on friends and family to make sure they have air conditioning, and if not, invite them over to cool down.

This heat wave is different in the respect that temperatures are higher and are setting records, and the heat is sustained, making it easy to become complacent.

“Now is not the time to be complacent,” he said. “Now’s the time to really ensure your own safety and that of a loved one, particularly those that are vulnerable. I can’t reinforce that enough.” 

The video conference was presented by Intermountain Health’s media relations lead Brad Lee Gillman.

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