Central Ohio heat wave raises concerns for children, elderly

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With a heat wave on its way to central Ohio, doctors are asking people to pay attention to themselves and their loved ones, especially young kids and the elderly.

Feels-like temperatures are expected to hit 100 degrees over the next few days. This extreme heat is the norm in July, but it’s rarer in late August.

Dr. Ryan Squier, an emergency room physician with OhioHealth, said not being used to the heat can make it more dangerous for people.

“We just had some really nice days where our averages were in the 70s and these sudden kinds of changes and spikes in temp when we jump up into the 90s, it sometimes takes time for the population in general to acclimate to that change,” Squier said.

If you notice someone seeming confused, having trouble walking, passing out or has stopped sweating, Squier said that is the time to step in because that person could be experiencing a heat-related illness.

“They have lost that self-awareness at that point of what’s going on,” Squier said. “So, they are going to rely on us as external bystanders to recognize ‘hey, something is wrong and I need to get you help.’”

This is especially true for young kids and the elderly because Squier said it’s harder for those age groups to adjust to heat and easier to get dehydrated.

Parents at a splash pad in downtown Columbus on Monday said they are worried about their little ones in the heat.

“I always feel really nauseous when it’s too hot outside and I don’t have enough water. So, just keep him hydrated, have some cool snacks on hand, some popsicles,” said Karen Coleman, who is the parent of a two-year-old son.

“Basically just keep some ice cream, some popsicles in your fridges and keep the AC on, gotta keep that on blast,” said Darrion Drake, the father of a two-year-old girl.

Coleman and Drake said they’ll be keeping an extra close eye on their kids over the next few days, especially since their kids are too young to understand the heat.

“If anything I’m going to check her forehead, check her body temperature, see how she’s feeling,” said Drake.

Coleman said she’d be on the lookout for, “Overheating, no sunburns of course. Just staying cool. I don’t want him to be out of breath or sweaty.”

Squier also said it’s important to pay attention to any weather alerts. He said some of the people who end up in his emergency room are the ones who are uninformed.

“Heed the caution, heed the warnings, make sure you are taking care of yourself. That’s why we’re taking time to educate you about this,” Squier said.

To prevent any kind of heat-related illness, Squier said it’s critical to drink plenty of water, stay inside in the air conditioning as much as possible and take lots of breaks if you are outside on a hot day.