LINCOLN - The National Weather Service this morning extended the heat advisory for Central Illinois to Thursday. The current heat wave was expected to break Wednesday with the arrival of a front that would bring cooler temperatures to the region. But the NWS said that front isn't expected to arrive until Thursday.

That means Central Illinois, and most of the state, should expect high temperatures hovering around 100 degrees today and Tuesday and at least in the 90s on Wednesday and at least part of Thursday.

The heat index reading, which combines temperature and humidity, will range from around 104 to 108 today and Tuesday.

Health officials urge people to follow some basic safety guidelines during the heat wave, including:

* Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually between 4 and 7 a.m.

* Stay indoors. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine. Try to go to a public building with air conditioning each day for several hours. Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help sweat evaporate, which cools your body.

* Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.

* Drink plenty of water. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They make the heat's effects on your body worse.

* Eat small meals and avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.

* Avoid salt tablets.

How to help

Heat cramps: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes.

Heat exhaustion: A form of mild shock brought on by loss of fluids and heavy sweat. Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Let the victim rest.

Heat stroke: A life-threatening situation when the body's temperature control system stops working. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

SOURCE: American Red Cross