By 8 a.m. Wednesday, the temperature at the Rochester Airport was already 80 degrees and the mercury kept rising well into the 90s. Doctors say in this weather emergency rooms are packed with those suffering from dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

"I worry most about elderly patients on a day like this,” said Dr. Bryan Gargano, the head of the adult emergency department at Rochester General Hospital.

Gargano says elderly people are often on medications that dry their bodies out. That makes them more vulnerable to the heat.

To stay cool, Gargano says you can simply stay inside in the air conditioning. He warns those outside to drink plenty of fluids and not over exert themselves. The beach may seem like a great place to beat the heat, but Gargano says the risks are still there.

"The other challenge is people having fun at the beach at a picnic or a BBQ. You have a couple of beers and and you may think you're staying well hydrated because you had a couple of drinks , but alcohol actually dehydrates you because it acts as a diuretic, so you may be more dehydrated when you think you're doing better."

Gargano also reminds beach goers to make sure they're wearing plenty of sunscreen.

An air quality alert has been issued has been issued for Monroe, Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties through 11 p.m. Wednesday. Those with asthma or respiratory conditions are being urged to take it easy if they go outdoors.