NATCHEZ &8212; With a heat advisory in effect for the past few days, the Miss-Lou has been sweltering.

The heat index, a calculation of the temperature and humidity that says how hot it feels, has been between 105 and 110 for the past few weeks, National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Byrd said Thursday.

Byrd said the heat should lessen a little in the next few days with rain on the way.

There are ways to stay healthy in such heat, said Dr. Keith Schwager, an emergency room doctor at Natchez Regional Medical Center.

&8220;The most important thing is to stay hydrated,&8221; Schwager said. &8220;Don&8217;t stay outdoors more than a couple hours at a time. Avoid being out there between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. when it is hottest.&8221;

Elderly people and children are more vulnerable when it&8217;s hot outside, he said, so it is important to keep an eye on them.

&8220;Elderly people take medications that can make it worse,&8221; he said. &8220;It can keep them from sweating to regulate their temperatures.&8221;

Schwager said he has seen some people, but not many, come into the ER for heat-related illness.

&8220;Most people around here know better, I think,&8221; he said.

It is important to keep pets cool and healthy, too, said Nezzie Merritt, assistant manager at the Natchez Humane Society.

&8220;If they&8217;re an outside pet, make sure they have plenty of water and a shade tree or dog house,&8221; Merritt said Thursday. &8220;They drink a lot of water in the summertime.&8221;

If it can be avoided, people should not leave their pets in their cars, Merritt said. If a pet has to be left in a car, keep the windows cracked enough so they have some air and get back to the car as soon as possible, she said.

With the weather so hot, it&8217;s hard to fight the temptation to crank up the air conditioning, but it&8217;s the best way to save energy, Ann Becker, a spokeswoman for Entergy said Thursday.

Becker recommended keeping the thermostat at 78 degrees and keeping windows covered during the hot parts of the day.

Wrapping the electric water heater and using a clothes dryer very early or late in the day can keep heat from escaping into the house, too, she said.

&8220;By making a few changes, you can make a big difference,&8221; Becker said.

Entergy has several programs to help keep costs bearable in the heat, she said. They can arrange it so they bill a customer every month for his average energy costs last year. This avoids seasonal spikes, she said.

They also have programs for low-income families to help with energy costs, she said. To find out if they qualify, customers should talk to their local Salvation Army or community action agency.

The good news is Entergy saw a 12 percent drop in their fuel costs since July, Becker said, so the cost savings should be passed along to the customer.

Vidalia Utility does not have specific programs, but Kenneth Davis, city manager, recommended turning the system off when customers leave the house.

&8220;Basically, it&8217;s just sit and sweat,&8221; Davis said.