High heat brings more patients to hospitals

Another day of hot and humid weather brought an increase of patients with heat-related symptoms to Cedar Rapids' emergency rooms.

Four people received care at Mercy Medical Center Thursday. Three adults and one child came in between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., said spokeswoman Karen Vander Sanden. Two patients were mowing their lawns, and another person was drinking too much alcohol and not enough water.

The heat index was near 100 degrees Thursday. Before Thursday's spike in patients, only two people had been treated for heat-related symptoms at Mercy over the course of the sultry week, said Vander Sanden.

There was also an increase of heat-related cases at St. Luke's Hospital, said spokeswoman Whitney Frost. No specific numbers were immediately available. But back in June 1995, another heat wave resulted in six people seeking care at the hospital, according to a past story in The Gazette.

Thursday's high temperature in Cedar Rapids was 90 degrees. Forecasters expected the temperature to dip a little on Friday. However, the heat index was expected to hover near 100 again.

The normal high temperature on August 12 is 84 degrees, based on KCRG-TV9 weather records.

Frost said it was important for people to follow professional advice in order to avoid heat-related illness. The National Weather service advises people to drink plenty of water when temperatures rise. It also says people should find air-conditioned rooms to avoid the heat.