How to Stay Cool During This Week's Heat Wave

(ABC 6 News) -- Even if you only stepped outside for a moment on Monday, you could feel the heat. The conditions potentially dangerous, especially for people who don't take the proper precautions. With temperatures approaching triple digits Monday, people were doing whatever they could to stay cool and more importantly, to stay safe.

The ER consultant at The Mayo Clinic says it happens every summer. People are taken in because of heat exhaustion, and that's why it's important they know how, and what, to do when temperatures get dangerously high.

"It's so hot today," said one mom, along with many others, at Austin’s public pool.

"We're air conditioned, so we have our place for people to rest and get away from the heat and we also have water, bottled water, cold and ready in our refrigerators for people who need it," said  Lt. Amy McMahan with the Austin Salvation Army. They have their cooling shelter ready to go and with a hot week ahead, it's an important resource.

"Trying to stay indoors, trying to stay in an air-conditioned environment, making sure you drink plenty of fluids.." said ER consultant Matthew Szthankrcer, with The Mayo Clinic Rochester. These are some of the best things you can do on a day like this. Although there are some people who refuse to hide indoors.

"Well they want to be outside, and the only way I can be outside on a day like today is to be cool and swimming, so it's good," said mother Joan Farrell. She spent the day at Austin's public pool.

It's so hot the pool is letting people take a dip for later hours. From 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm they're opening their gates for 50 cents. "People are thankful when we do open from the heat index," said Kim Underwood with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department.

Still, the biggest thing is to stay hydrated, especially if you're exerting yourself.

"We made sure to practice near the sprinklers so that they could, every 5 to 10 minutes, go get soaked, go get wet, go cool down, and then at the same time, we take water breaks every 10 minutes. Just to cool down because we don't want anyone to get hurt or injured," said traveling soccer coach Brent Brehmer while his team was practicing in the heat.

Doctors say you need to know your body and its limits. "You get very fatigued, you start to get nauseated and sick to your stomach, and as you can imagine, getting sick to your stomach and therefore not being able to take fluids, it becomes a vicious cycle," said Szthankrcer.

Doctors say people older than 65 and younger than four are most affected by heat exhaustion. Also anyone with a pre-existing medical condition should be extra cautious.