TOPEKA (KSNT) – Staff at two Topeka hospitals report that multiple people have sought out medical care over the past few days due to issues caused by recent hot weather.
A period of high temperatures running from late August to the first days of September is causing some people in the Topeka area to fall ill this week. Healthcare professionals have recorded several patients at two of the Capital City’s hospitals in the past week.
We got in touch with staff at Topeka’s Stormont Vail Health and the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus to find out how many people have been seriously impacted by the recent hot weather. In total, both hospitals report that 18 people have fallen ill due to heat-related conditions.
Yvonne Etzel with Stormont Vail Health confirmed that 14 patients have reported to the hospital’s emergency department and Express Care Clinics over the past week due to heat problems. Terri Benson with the University of Kansas Health System said that four patients reported to the emergency department at the St. Francis Campus for heat exposure illnesses.
KSNT 27 News Stormtrack Meteorologist Ashton Rizzo said that all of northeast Kansas is currently in an extreme heat warning until Tuesday, Sept. 8. Kansans can expect above-average temperatures during this period until a cold front arrives late next week.
I-70 Topeka Boulevard exit ramp closing for two weeks
The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends people take precautions while the heat warning is in effect. People should wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing while outdoors and limit strenuous outdoor activities to either the early morning or evening hours of the day. The NWS also said people should avoid leaving pets and children inside unattended vehicles and drink lots of fluids.
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