ELKHART — Relaxing in the shade under a blue beach umbrella, Tracey Rouen watches her granddaughters splash around and take turns on the waterslide at McNaughton Spray Park.

“They're here from Virginia Beach,” Rouen says from behind a pair of dark sunglasses. “The last time they were here, it was spring, and it was cold.”

Nearby, parents slap on coconut scented sunscreen, and kids squeal as cold water splashes their faces. Five-year-old Collin Craig playfully sprays water at his babysitter, Deb Krallman.

“He's never been here before, so we decided to come out today,” Krallman says. “It's supposed to be hot on Thursday, so we'll probably stay inside.”

THE FORECAST

“Hot” may be an understatement. Temperatures are expected to inch close to 100 degrees this week, and signs of relief from the sweltering heat are few and far between.

On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch for most of northern Indiana, including Elkhart County, for Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The watch means that high temperatures combined with steady winds and low humidity increase the danger of wildfires.

Accuweather, which monitors South Bend, is forecasting a high temperature of 96 degrees on Thursday, but senior meteorologist Paul Walker said that number could creep up a few more degrees. A cool front will slip southward with a slight chance of thunderstorms possible Friday. The weekend will bring temperatures in the low 90s that will continue into next week.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service had not issued a heat advisory, but Walker said that could change by the end of the week.

HEALTH RISKS

Elkhart General Hospital has treated several patients in the past couple of weeks for heat-related illnesses, and emergency department medical director David VanRyn expects even more people to visit the hospital as the heat wave continues.

When the heat index reaches the upper 90s and triple digits, VanRyn said people should watch for signs of heat exhaustion. These include dizziness, fainting, seizures, loss of consciousness and a lack of sweat.

VanRyn advises people to limit their exposure to the sun.

“Some people can't avoid it because they work outdoors, so one of the most important things is to keep yourself cool, taking breaks in the shade, using a fan to cool off and replace fluids lost through sweat,” he said.

Drinking water is the best way to rehydrate, VanRyn said.

Some people are at a higher risk of heat illness, he said, including the very young, the very old and people who take psychiatric, blood pressure and heart medications.

PETS ALSO VULNERABLE

Pets are also susceptible to health risks posed by extreme heat, Humane Society of Elkhart County executive director Anne Reel said.

Hot weather can cause overheating when animals are left outside, Reel said. She suggested walking pets in the morning before the pavement heats up. She said pets should not be left in parked cars, not even for short periods.

“It doesn't take long for it to get exceedingly hot where it can be a danger to the pet inside,” Reel said.

KEEPING COOL

The Elkhart County Emergency Management Department has not set up any cooling centers for the public, but deputy director Michael Pennington said Tuesday that the department is discussing its options.

Sheri Howland, Goshen parks superintendent, said the pool at Shanklin Park and splash pads have been busy with people seeking a place to cool down.

“A few years ago we had really, really extreme heat,” Howland said. “If we have too many days in a row like that, for safety we did open the pool up for free for people to get out of the heat. I'm sure that the administration would be looking at that again if we have too many days in a row in the extreme heat. Our priority is to keep people safe.”

Truth reporter Justin Leighty contributed to this story.