JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – American Medical Response (AMR) paramedics caution the public to remember that soaring temperatures and high humidity can kill.

Heat exhaustion, sunburn and dehydration are just a few heat-related illnesses. As temperatures heat up in Mississippi, people should be cautious.

An early symptom of heat exhaustion is feeling light-headed or dizzy. Heat exhaustion also includes heavy sweating with cool, clammy and sometimes pale skin.

“It’s important to know that heat can not only bring on the illness itself, but it can at the same time exacerbate. It can worsen preexisting conditions, cardiac, respiratory and on and on,” said Jim Pollard, public information officer for ARM Central Mississippi.

Everyone is encouraged to stay hydrated and avoid working during the extremely hot hours of the day. First aid for heat stroke is to remove the victim from the heat source and cool him/her off immediately.

“Remember that when you call 911, the call is transferred over to AMR’s call taker dispatchers. Those folks in our communication center are trained and certified to advise the caller on what to do and what not to do for the patient until the ambulance arrives,” stated Pollard.

AMR officials said they have not received many heat-related calls for help this year. However, they do expect to see an influx as summer continues.

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