Ohio health officials urge caution in summer heat

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — State health officials are urging Ohioans to take precautions to avoid heat-related illness as temperatures are expected to increase this week.

The Ohio Department of Health says the elderly, infants and children, and people with chronic medical conditions need to take extra care in avoiding heat-related stress. The agency is encouraging people to drink water and stay cool.

Health officials say in 2015, nine people died in Ohio because of extreme heat.

Heat and humidity is expected to build across a huge swath of the U.S. over the next few days.

Highs are forecast to be in the 90 this week, with humidity making it feel warmer. The National Weather Service says heat indexes are expected to approach or exceed 100 degrees for much of Ohio through the weekend.

Authorities: Boy, 2, hurt in lawn mower accident in Ohio

HAYESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A 2-year-old boy has been hospitalized with serious injuries after authorities say his leg was caught in the blades of a garden tractor’s lawn mower in northern Ohio.

The Mansfield News Journal reports the rural Hayesville area boy had been playing outside and somehow got his left foot, ankle and leg caught in the tractor while his 15-year-old sister was mowing the lawn Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities say the boy had severe lacerations but was awake and alert. He has been flown to a Cleveland hospital.

Chief Deputy Carl Richert of the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office says it’s a “terrible accident” and investigators aren’t sure what caused it.