(COLORADO) — Summer in Southern Colorado means heat, and sometimes, dangerous heat. When temperatures climb to a point that could impact your health, the National Weather Service (NWS) may issue a Heat Advisory.

A Heat Advisory is essentially a heads-up: it means conditions are hot enough that heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heat stroke become more likely, especially for vulnerable groups like kids, the elderly, and those working outdoors.

So, what exactly triggers a Heat Advisory? In our part of Colorado, the criteria usually include high temperatures in the upper 90s to triple digits, and/or heat index values, how hot it feels, reaching dangerous levels.

Now, keep in mind: we don’t get the same kind of humidity as, for example, the Midwest or the South. So, our advisories are based more on extreme dry heat over a certain period, often several hours.

If a Heat Advisory is issued, here’s what you should do:

Stay hydrated with water, not caffeine or alcohol.

Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, usually between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Check on those susceptible: the elderly, friends, or family members.

The bottom line: Heat can be more dangerous than it looks. A little preparation can go a long way.