With temperatures hovering in the 90s and above, the recent heat wave is posing a serious problem to local residents.

"For Scranton, it got up to 95 degrees on the 24th (of July), and 97 degrees on the 23rd. Those were record breakers," says Kerry Schwindenhammer, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. Schwindenhammer speculates that the high temperatures will continue for the next few days, with some relief coming through before the weekend."I think that the true heat is going to start coming to an end around Thursday," he said. "It won't be as hot on Friday, still a little humid, but not as hot."The region may experience some relief due to thunderstorms, which will hit the mid-Atlantic over the next few days. But until then, the weather will continue to pose a threat to the health and safety of area residents.Heat-related illnesses have become a growing problem since the onslaught of the heat wave, said Jody Shigo, Blue Mountain Health System's associate vice president of nursing and interim director of emergency services."We have seen an increase (of hospitalizations), specifically last Thursday. We saw many people who were afflicted with dehydration or heat exhaustion," Shigo said."If (the heat wave) continues, we will probably see an uptick in our patients."St. Luke's Miners Emergency Department manager Marshall Bowen said some issues may not be directly caused by the heat itself, but they are related. "We've had some issues related to swimming, slipping in the water, and so on," Bowen says.Shigo recommends not going outdoors during peak heat hours, such as around noon, unless absolutely necessary. Check on any elderly family and friends, as they are particularly at risk for heat related illnesses. Bowen also said anyone with health conditions such as asthma or heart problems should be careful, as the humidity can be problematic for breathing properly.And if you do have to go out during the day? "Use an umbrella," she said. "It sounds silly, but use an umbrella to help shield yourself from the heat a little bit."While precautions are always necessary to ensure the health and safety of all people during a heat wave, outdoor workers from organizations such as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and PPL are especially at risk.Exposure to high temperatures and direct sunlight are particularly dangerous for the workers, but each department has protocols in place."On extremely hot days, our outdoor employees do take extra health precautions," says PennDOT District Press Officer Ronald J. Young Jr."They carry with them and are encouraged to drink water, take more frequent rest breaks, are trained to know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and monitor fellow workers for signs of illness," he said.Carol Obando-Derstine, regional affairs director of PPL Electric Utilities, conveyed a similar strategy for the company's workers to beat the heat."We tell our crews to drink plenty of fluids, and find cool, shady places to take frequent breaks," she says. "We provide drinks, water and Gatorade for the workers. During the work day, crew members will rotate on jobs more frequently in order to allow for breaks while ensuring that work at job sites continues."While peak temperatures may drive some to the comfort of the indoors and air conditioning, the season does call for an increase in outdoor activities.The key to safety lies in prevention methods and quick responses in dire situations.At the end of the day, the most important thing, according to both Shigo and Bowen, is to drink plenty of water.Shigo said, "Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You just cannot hydrate enough."