By Lindsey Kane on June 20, 2020

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) — Today is the first official day of summer, but the summer heat has already made an appearance here in western Mass.

While the days continue to get hotter, many people become at risk for suffering from a heat stroke.

A local health expert told Western Mass News that the same group of people who are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 are also more likely to suffer from a heat stroke.

“Your body is absorbing more heat than you give off,” said American Medical Response’s Regional Director Patrick Pickering.

Saturday marks the official first day of summer, but Pickering told us that all the fun in the sun could lead people to experience heat exhaustion…the precursor to suffering from a heat stroke.

“We need to continue our intake with liquids to allow our body to evaporate and give off that heat,” Pickering explained.

Pickering said warning signs of a heat-related illness include excessive sweating, leg cramps, flushed skin, nausea, and dizziness, but he told us there are plenty of preventative measures to take to make sure you and your family stay safe.

 

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