You’ll want to grab a pair of shorts or hit the lake as Mother Nature turns up the thermostat in Door County. While the scorching heat ripples across the state, it could leave you red hot, putting you at risk for heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

“Heat exhaustion is kind of the warning sign and heat stroke is more of a medical emergency,” said Holly Neri, BSN, RN, a Public Health Nurse for Door County Public Health, “some things that folks might start to notice is feeling faint, dizzy or excessive sweating; cool, clammy skin, they might feel nauseous or they could have a rapid pulse; muscle cramps are a big one.”

If overheated, Neri recommends finding a space to cool down. She warns that drinking too much water can cause an electrolyte imbalance. Neri says if symptoms don’t improve, to seek prompt medical attention. Be sure to check on individuals who may not have access to air conditioning during periods of extreme heat, and most importantly, never leave pets or children unattended in a hot vehicle.

“People might think being in northern Wisconsin they might not need to worry about it, but you know, as you can see from the weather forecast, we do get pretty hot here.” Neri added, “It might be 80° outside, but then inside a car if you leave it, it can reach up to 100° within a couple of minutes.”