ELKHART — Two people in Elkhart died as a result of heat over the weekend.

An elderly woman was found dead in her home Friday night, while a 45-year-old man was found dead in his upstairs apartment Saturday.

According to Elkhart County Coroner John White, the deaths were caused by hyperthermia. White said hyperthermia occurs when the body’s core temperature rises above 101 degrees and the victim then remains exposed to extreme heat. As a result, the person’s organs fail.

The victims lived in older buildings without air conditioning.

White said the best way to avoid hyperthermia is for people to take breaks from long exposure to heat. He suggested going to a mall, store, restaurant or local cooling stations, anywhere with air conditioning to provide the body with a break from the high temperatures.

White added that people who live alone should be checked on during periods of high temperatures especially if they haven’t been in recent communication.