Despite several heat-related injury cases in the past several days, Southern Illinois residents have been listening to warnings about the dangers of being outside in the heat, area health administrators said Tuesday.

Bonnie Salvettti, an emergency room superintendent at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, said there were 19 heat-related cases at Memorial during the recent heat wave.

She said she was pleased with the relatively low number of cases and added that none of the patients suffered from heat stroke.

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This year we’re seeing people who know what precautions to take when they’re outside in the heat, she said. Usually we have at least one heat stroke victim during the summer.

Steve Massie, coordinator of sports medicine at SIUC, said he believes the publicity generated by heat-related deaths in Chicago may have an effect on how people approach the heat. There were 179 heat-related deaths in Chicago between July 13 and July 17, according to the Chicago Tribune. Chicago’s temperature peaked at 106 degrees during that period.

Marian Howell, unit secretary at the emergency room of Marion Memorial Hospital, said she is happy with the lack of heat victims during the past several days. Howell said there were only two heat-related cases at Marion Memorial.

People are heeding the warnings, she said.

Officials at the Herrin Hospital reported only one case of heat exhaustion during the heat wave.

Heat exhaustion and stroke are not the only ways people can be harmed in the heat. Salvetti said pre-existing conditions such as breathing difficulties and heart problems can be aggravated by the heat and are thus considered heat-related.

Health experts advise people outside in the heat to keep themselves hydrated with water or sports drinks and to avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. Prolonged exposure to the sun also should be avoided. People who feel dizzy should move themselves into an air-conditioned area as soon as possible.

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Jeff Arment, a meteorological aide at Southern Illinois Airport, said although the humidity and temperature were lower Tuesday than the previous several days, the heat is not over.

It will undoubtedly heat up again, he said, adding that another heat wave like the one the region just experienced isn’t out of the question.