LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The heat is on, and it's not letting up as Kentuckiana sizzles under near triple-digit temperatures.
It's not just uncomfortable -- it's downright dangerous.
The mercury in a thermometer climbed to triple digits within minutes of being left outside Monday afternoon, and that was in a shady spot.
That means people who must spend time out in the heat must take precautions.
Chet Ballew Jr. owns Ballew's Lawn Service. Ballew said he and his crews "try to start earlier so we don't have to work as late."
After years in the landscaping business, the extreme heat is not a surprise to Ballew, who said having a game plan is a must.
"I'll pay them to work a longer day because we'll take breaks and start earlier. Take breaks, you know, to get through the day."
Hydration isn’t optional. It's what keeps his team on the job and out of the ER.
"I keep water in the cooler in the truck, and I tell them, 'make sure you know this. That's a must."
That advice goes for everyone.
Medical warning about heat
Whether you're mulching, mowing, or making a splash, Dr. Evan Kuhl said the risk is real. "We are definitely seeing a lot of people who are suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion," he said.
Dr. Kuhl, the medical director for Jewish Hospital's ER, said the danger extends beyond the outdoors, especially for certain age groups like the elderly, who "cannot regulate their temperature as well, and so they may become their temperature may increase even inside, not outdoors, not out in the sun."
A place to cool off
One place that is cool? The library.
"Use the library," said Paul Burns with the Louisville Free Public Library. "We're here. We're free, we're open to everybody."
With 17 branches open across the city, the library is one of the community's cooling centers.
Burns said everyone is welcome to take a break from the heat there.
"Especially when it's hot like this, we invite everybody to come in just to get out of the heat, rest, recharge."
As temperatures linger in the 90s and the heat index climbs higher, doctors say to be on the lookout for warning signs of heat stroke.
"The symptoms can be mild, though it can be very little, as far as just maybe some nausea, if you stop sweating, or if somebody's a little bit confused," Kuhl said.
Because this heat isn't going away anytime soon.
"You just learn to deal with it," Ballew said.
Staying safe in this heat comes down to planning ahead, pacing yourself and knowing when to take a break.
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