Illinois offers heat safety tips as temperatures rise

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois officials say heat kills more people each year than other weather-related hazards and are offering the public safety tips.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency recommends staying hydrated by drinking up to two quarts of fluids a day and taking advantage of cooling centers, public pools and air-conditioned spaces.

IEMA Acting Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau says one of the most important safety tips is to never leave children, the elderly, disabled individuals or pets in parked cars as temperatures in vehicles rise faster than people realize.

The National Weather Service says that heat led to an average of 101 deaths each year from 2009 to 2019. In the same time period, floods led to an average of 95 deaths while tornadoes caused an average of 89 deaths.