CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Being it’s too hot for the Tom Sox to play baseball, that ought to be a clue of the message from Albemarle County Fire Rescue’s medical director to heed the heat warnings and advisory. Dr. William Brady works at the UVA ER, and he says business is brisk in the number of 9-1-1 calls as well as visits they’re seeing at the ER. And he says this is the reason why you need to pay attention to the heat index, even more so than what the high will be on the thermometer.

He says Albemarle Fire Rescue and UVA Health have myriad research attributing higher patient volume to heat indices above 100-degrees. We’re seeing distinctions with the heat advisory at, for example 107, but an excessive heat warning when the heat index reaches 110. He says while 110 or 111 is obviously higher than 107, and probably a little bit worse, both are dangerous.

“That doesn’t mean that you can’t walk out of your office to your car, or walk out of your apartment to the bus stop, or walk down the street to pick somebody up. You just have to be cautious and smart.”

He says what they’re seeing is heat exhaustion. And he says while heat stroke is rare, it does happen and it can be deadly, so take immediate actions to cool down and drink fluids at room temperature or just below it when exhibiting symptoms like fatigue and confusion.