DENVER — Colorado's climate is getting warmer, and hospitals are noticing more people going to the emergency room for illnesses tied to heat.
Numbers from the state show last year nearly 500 people went to the emergency room because of the heat. Ten years ago, data shows, hospitals saw about 300 people each year for the same reason.
Sometimes these situations can become deadly. People experiencing heatstroke have a high body temperature and they become dizzy and confused. As heat waves become more common, health officials expect to see more of these emergencies.
"Just in general, especially with the rapid change in weather we experienced this year also, I don't think folks were prepared to go from the chilly spring we had to 100-degree days," said Dr. Genevieve Hillis, an emergency medicine doctor at UCHealth.
Several agencies across the state are actively working to address extreme heat. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, there's a group evaluating the best ways to increase shade, such as adding trees or orienting new buildings to provide more shade.
People can help prevent heat-related illness by drinking water often, limiting outdoor activity and wearing loose-fitting clothes. Health officials also recommend checking in with adults who are at greater risk at least two times a day.
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