The hot weather is expected to continue through the weekend, with temperatures projected to reach into the 100's, with high humidity. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has issued a heat advisory for the upcoming weekend for a large area of the state.

That raises the danger of heat-related illnesses. Dr. John Molesworth, an emergency room physician at Frederick Memorial Hospital, says so far, not a lot of patients have come into the ER with heat-related illnesses. "Very mild,0 the last couple of days, but nothing very serious," he says. "We see about 200 people a day, and perhaps three or four are heat-related.

DHMH says there were four more heat-related deaths in Maryland,  bringing the total to 8. The agency says three were men over the age of 65, and one was  a male  between the ages of 45 and 65. Three were from Baltimore City, and one was from Montgomery County.

Dr. Molesworth says it's important to limit your physical activities between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and drink plenty of fluids, but not alcohol or drinks with caffeine, which can pull fluid from your body. He says if you have to be out, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water or other fluids.

He also says wear light-colored, loose fitting clothing. "Cotton is not a very good fabric," he says. "If you have anything like the underarmer or underarmer type material, it's very good for this type of weather."

Dr. Molesworth also says be sure to be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. "Such as muscle cramps , dizziness, nausea, and confusion," he says. If you notice that in yourself or someone else, get help, says Dr. Molesworth.

That's what State Highway Administration has been urging its employees and contractors who are outside working in the heat and humidity. "Pretty challenging with the heat out there, but it hasn't stopped  anybody. Our inspectors are trained to give  these men and women of the SHA and our contractors many, many breaks, and a lot of water," says SHA spokesman Charlie Gischlar, who says workers are also  urged to use sunscreen to prevent burns.

He says this goes for crews working during the overnight hours. "We still do encourage frequent break because hot weather can literally take the breath out of you," he says. "Especially for people doing the blacktopping type of work, the asphalt and paving type of work. That is extremely, extremely stressing to the skin and the human body when it gets to be these temperatures, including at night."

So far, SHA says no highway worker has been overcome by a heat-related illness in Maryland and had to be taken to the hospital. And no project, including the I-70 project at South Street in Frederick, has been slowed due to the heat, says Gischlar.