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With summer just around the corner, experts warn about the dangers of heat stroke and what precautions to take – including local physicians who offer virtual or telehealth services. Dr. Janak Patel with the University of Kansas Health System says the elderly in particular need to take extra precautions to stay safe.

“In many cases your problem may be resolved by phone. It really kind of varies. And so when we talk about summer related issues, what we’re talking about really is heat illness. And heat illness is a spectrum of disease,” said Patel.

Patel says that spectrum includes mild cramping or swelling, but can quickly progress to nausea, headache or vomiting – especially if someone has been working in the yard under a hot sun. He says it might be easily solved by getting into the shade and drinking water if you’re healthy, but those with cardiac risk factors may need to find an urgent care center. He says if you have grandparents or neighbors who are elderly you should check on them regularly in case an air conditioning unit fails – especially if you know they’re unlikely to ask for help.

“People who are already vulnerable to heat—because their bodies can’t regulate temperature as effectively—are at even greater risk when their air conditioning fails. These are the individuals who often end up in the emergency room during the summer,” said Patel.

According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention heat was the underlying or contributing cause of nearly 17-hundred deaths nationwide in 2022, for a rate of about five deaths per million residents.

To learn more about how to stay safe in the heat, visit CDCs website.