While local emergency rooms told Denver7 they're not seeing an unusual spike in heat-related illnesses, they are treating a steady number of patients with preventable heat emergencies.
DENVER — As more people spend their time outdoors, healthcare providers tell Denver7 it's not just about how hot it gets, it's how long you're exposed to the heat and recognizing the early warning signs can prevent a medical emergency.
Colorado ERs continue to see steady number of preventable heat illnesses “If you are out there for 12 hours, you're at higher risk. If you're in 90 degrees for two or three hours, you're probably okay as long as you're staying hydrated and taking in an appropriate amount of electrolytes,” HCA HealthONE Swedish emergency department director & nurse practitioner Parie Morgan Jared said.
Jared said heat illness progresses in stages, from muscle cramps to heat exhaustion and, if untreated, heat stroke.
“Whenever you start to feel those early symptoms, like muscle tightness or muscle spasms, you've got like some restless activity, you're starting to feel a little bit hot, you're sweating a lot more than you normally do. That's your body trying to get ahead of it and trying to compensate and signal to you, hey, there's something going on, and that's when you would want to take preventative measures,” Jared said.
While local emergency rooms told Denver7 they're not seeing an unusual spike in heat-related illnesses, they are treating a steady number of patients with preventable heat emergencies.
“According to system-wide Children's Hospital Colorado records, we've had a total of 6,600 visits across our Emergency Department / Urgent Care sites over the past two weeks. Of these visits, only 9 were due to heat-related illness, and none were admitted for this reason. This is generally consistent with the volume and trends Children's Colorado typically sees during the summer months,” a Children’s Hospital Colorado spokesperson told Denver7.
Over at HCA HealthONE Swedish emergency department, they are seeing the normal volume of people coming in, given the temperatures the state is currently experiencing.
“It is fairly common, throughout the summer months, for us to get some patients present to the emergency department for these types of symptoms,” Jared said. Older adults and people spending hours exercising or working outside are at the highest risk.
“As we get older, we lose the ability to regulate our temperature, and we're also not as prone to staying hydrated and to drink as much as we probably should. Extreme sport athletes or cardio-driven athletes that are out there for longer time periods in the same temperature are the ones who we typically say get to those later stages of heat exhaustion,” Jared added. Denver7 asked about common misconceptions when it comes to heat-related illnesses.
“A lot of people think of your Gatorades or your Powerades. Things like that will help with it but they're super high in sugar, and they're not necessarily the best thing,” Jared said. A Pedialyte or something that is marketed a little bit differently, lower in sugar, but still has all those electrolytes is really key to staying hydrated in that environment. ” Staying hydrated, replacing electrolytes and taking breaks in the shade are some ways to prevent heat-related illnesses.
If you are looking to head outdoors, the best time to go is around sunrise and sunset. Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Sophia Villalba Denver7’s Sophia Villalba covers stories that have an impact in all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in covering education. If you’d like to get in touch with Sophia, fill out the form below to send her an email.
Please follow us on Google to support usParie Morgan Jared Emergency Department Director & Nurse Practitioner Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke Heat-Related Illnesses
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Colorado Safety Ben Finneseth Stresses What People Miss About Deion SandersColorado coach Deion Sanders has built a roster of transfers and some high-profile names, but some of the most important stories in Boulder still belong to the
Read more »
Colorado Wildfires: Aspen Acres Fire Evacuations Lifted, Residents Return HomeMore evacuations were lifted for the Aspen Acres fire burning in southern Colorado on Tuesday, allowing residents to return home after weeks of uncertainty. The Aspen Acres fire is one of six active wildfires burning across Colorado that have together consumed nearly 208,000 acres, or 325 square miles, according to fire officials.
Read more »
The latest on Colorado's major wildfiresDenver7 has been tracking each detail since the four largest fires of 2026 — the Aspen Acres Fire, Ferris Fire, Willow Fire and Gold Mountain Fire — broke out in lake June.
Read more »
Fraudulent Business Registrations Plague Colorado: Victims Face Unwitting Involvement in ScamsColorado residents are discovering their home addresses used without permission to register thousands of shell companies, fueling sophisticated scams that exploit the state's business filing system.
Read more »