Doctors warn of potential health risks following multiple days of high temps
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Another dangerously hot, humid day comes with a warning for Southeast Wisconsin. Doctors say with multiple hot days in a row, there can be a cumulative effect on the body.
"If you have multiple hot days in a row and you're not taking the precautionary steps on those early days, you might find yourself behind the eight ball on day three or four," said Dr. Jeff Pothoff, quality health officer and emergency medicine physician, UW Health.
Those precautionary steps include things like getting enough water or sports drinks, taking breaks in the shade, and having an air-conditioned space to retreat to.
"If you're feeling a little bit, you know, you're starting to get a headache or you're feeling some muscle cramps, that's your early warning sign that you're just kind of hitting your limit," said Dr. Jeff Pothoff.
With Monday's heat index ranging from 100 to 108, splash pads like one in Wauwatosa, kept kids cool.
"They love it, getting out the house when it's hot outside to come here, to the park, to play and get in the water," said Bridgette Turnbull, mom.
"And then after all, we go back in our AC and watch TV and relax. So we take advantage of it when it is hot," said mom Valerie Miller.
Milwaukee Recreation had plenty of options too, stretching from the north side to the south side.
"Great opportunity to get out and enjoy a little bit of summer outside safely in the heat, and stay cool while doing it," said Derek Donlevy, recreation manager, Milwaukee Recreation.
Burnham Playfield is one of eight splash pads open until 8 p.m. each night this week, and people here are taking full advantage of it.
"We were able to secure some staff, with this heat advisory, to be able to reopen two of our wading pools. A lot of our staff are MPS staff or college students, so they're getting ready to go back to school, but with the heat advisory, it was really important for us to find staff and able to open two locations for the community to stay cool," said Donlevy.
Near Washington Park, an open fire hydrant off 38th Street elicited smiles.
Elsewhere, the heat's been especially tough for Walworth County.
All municipal beaches of Geneva Lake right now are closed. Anyone experiencing stomach cramps, headache, fever, muscle weakness or difficulty breathing, who may have come into contract with blue-green algae, should call Wisconsin Poison Control. That goes for pets, too.