SAVANNAH, Ga. () — With higher temperatures, heat illnesses are becoming more common and more dangerous.

Whether you’re working outside, exercising, or just spending time in the sun, your body can overheat fast. We talk about the heat all the time, but it’s not just uncomfortable. It can actually be life-threatening.

I spoke with a local doctor who sees cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke every summer and wants to make sure you know the difference.

Dr. Timothy Connelly, who is an Internal Medicine Physician at Memorial Health, says, “Heat exhaustion is just being tired, fatigued, sweating excessively, you just don’t feel great. That is when you have the opportunity to say I need to get out of the heat. Because once you get to the heat stroke area, you start to lose awareness, you may not feel hot anymore, and you start to get what we call encephalopathic or altered. You might not be talking correctly. Those individuals are in an acute life-threatening situation and they need to get out of the heat as soon as possible.”

Children, the elderly, and outdoor workers are especially vulnerable, but even healthy adults can get sick if they don’t hydrate or take breaks from the heat. Doctors say the best way to avoid heat illness is to drink water regularly, wear light clothing, and avoid outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, which is typically between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., but if you can’t avoid the heat, what should you do?

Dr. Timothy Connelly recommends, “People that are unhoused should take advantage of the cooling centers that are open and make sure that they are around those particular areas. People that work in the heat should take every precaution. Wear light clothing, wear clothing that reflects the sun, have some first aid cooling available. When you look at the firefighters, they have cooling vests because they have all the equipment. I tell people to freeze some water bottles, put them in a cooler. If someone gets overheated you can put them in the groin, the armpit or axillary region and that can help cool your core body temperature pretty quickly.” 

If you or someone you’re with starts showing signs of heat illness like dizziness, nausea, confusion, or a rapid heartbeat, it’s important to act fast. Get to a cooler place, hydrate and don’t hesitate to call for medical help if symptoms don’t improve.

Staying safe in the heat isn’t just about comfort; it could save a life.