photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

This graphic shared by Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, shows the recent spike in average weekly heat index and heat-related emergency room visits in Douglas County.

Following weeks of high temperatures during June and July, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health is warning people in Douglas County about the risk of heat-related illnesses.

On Wednesday, the health department shared on social media that the heat wave that’s affected the area since mid-June has correlated to a higher percentage of hospital visits compared with the month or so prior. That’s associated directly with heightened “average heat index” readings; the heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.

For example, according to the National Weather Service, the heat index reading from Lawrence Municipal Airport reached a high of 115 Tuesday afternoon. The high temperature of the day of 97, combined with a relative humidity of 55%, places the National Weather Service’s likelihood of heat disorders with prolonged exposure or strenuous activity at the second-most severe “danger” level.

For a broader perspective, LMH Health spokesperson Autumn Bishop told the Journal-World Friday that last year through June and July there were 34 total visits to the LMH Health emergency department concerning heat-related illnesses. There have already been more heat-related visits to the emergency department, 37 of them, during the same months this year — and that’s without including the numbers for the last week of July, which had multiple days with temperatures in the triple digits.

Though temperatures have cooled a bit during the first week of August, the risk of heat-related illness still remains. According to the National Weather Service, Douglas County remains under a heat advisory with heat index values from around 101 to 106 possible through 8 p.m. Friday.

Common symptoms of heat-related illness, according to the health department, are muscle cramping, fatigue or headache, dizziness or fainting, and nausea and vomiting. To prevent those symptoms, the health department recommends using air conditioning, spending time outdoors later in the day, drinking lots of fluids and wearing light clothing.

Children and people 65 and older are at greater risk of heat-related illness, according to the health department. The health department recommends checking on friends and neighbors who may be in danger, never leaving pets or children in hot cars, and staying cool by drinking fluids and carefully scheduling outdoor activities.

A full list of common heat-related illnesses is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.