Metro Health advises precaution ahead of record heat this weekend [Video]

Officials with the city and Metropolitan Health District are gearing up for the high temperatures ahead.

“The big thing that we want to push with anybody, whether you’re out in the rural counties, if you’re in the inner city or wherever: work, rest, shade, hydrate,” said George Perez, operations manager for public health emergency preparedness for Metro Health. “Hydrate should be No. 1, because you want to make sure you’re doing enough hydration.”

The types of hydration, Perez explains, also matters. 

“When I’m talking fluids, I’m talking about water, something with electrolytes in it,” he said. “Be careful with carbonated beverages and alcoholic beverages, because those tend to dehydrate us. Also, caffeine’s another one that we have to be careful with, (as well as) carbonated beverages, carbonated caffeine products.”

Not drinking enough can lead to heat-related illnesses.

“A lot of times it doesn’t get reported correctly because it …