On Thursday, August 7, 2008, Dr. Whitcomb was interviewed by KAKE News regarding animal health during the extreme heat.

CLICK HERE to link to the KAKE website to watch the interview.

Below is the transcript from that interview:

Posted: 10:42 PM Aug 7, 2008

Last Updated: 10:42 PM Aug 7, 2008

Email Address: natasha.trelfa@kake.com

Thursday's cool down was certainly appreciated, but local hospital officials say they've seen dozens of heat illness cases in recent days.

The City of Wichita is planning to open up more pools this weekend to help people cool down. Even local veterinarians said they're seeing a few patients struggling with the heat.

"Listen to what your body is telling you," explains Shelia Rupp, the pediatric trauma coordinator at Wesley Medical Center.

Muscle aches, head aches, feeling faint: Those are just a few of the troubling symptoms local emergency room workers say they've seen a lot of in the past week.

"It starts out with the muscle cramps, feeling week, profuse sweating," Rupp says. "From there it goes into your body trying to cool down and your skin gets a little cooler and you start having head aches, nausea, and vomiting."

Thanks to a string of scorching days, doctors at St. Francis and Wesley said they've seen dozens of people, mostly children and elderly, showing up with heat related injuries.

"Often we'll have to cool them down, get them re-hydrated in order to get them feeling better," says Brian Katan, an emergency room doctor at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

"We're faced with playing catch up with fluid replacement," said Rupp.

But it's not just your fellow man doctors say you need to keep an eye on when the heat is on. Local veterinarians say they're seeing more animals coming in also struggling with the heat.

"I always see some in the summer time," said Randy Whitcomb, a Wichita veterinarian, "I think the biggest mistake is leaving dogs out in the sun, in the heat of the day, without proper shade and water."

Randy Whitcomb said it's a simple concept: Our pets are similar to us when it comes to the dangers of the heat. He said pet owners need to be pro-active in keeping their animals cool and work fast if they think their pet is in trouble.

"If people suspect they're overheated, they probably need to just spray them with water like a water hose, to get he animal soaking wet," said Whitcomb.

With the heat expected to make a come back in the coming days, doctors say whether it's you or your pet hitting the outdoors, keep the cool water handy and get into the shade, especially if you've already battled with the sun.

"Once you've had a heat related injury in the past, you're more prone to it again," said Katan.

Local pools are also trying to help people beat the heat the city plans to open three additional pools for the next two weekends because of recent extreme heat.