EAST COUNTY — As temperatures climb again across the inland valleys, a La Mesa resident who was airlifted after suffering severe heat exhaustion during an off-road motorcycle ride near Campo is urging the community to take hydration and heat safety seriously.

Alex Savvidis was riding north of Campo when he ran out of water after about an hour on the trail. Within minutes, his condition deteriorated rapidly — elevated heart rate, nausea, and what he described as his "body shutting down." He ultimately called for help and was airlifted to a waiting ambulance.

"I was really scared what could happen," Savvidis said, noting that temperatures were only in the mid-80s at the time — not extreme by East County standards, but more than enough to cause dangerous heat illness when combined with exertion and insufficient hydration.

Dr. Heidi Meyer, a Kaiser Permanente family medicine doctor, says the case is a reminder that heat illness doesn't discriminate. "No matter age, no matter your fitness level, you can get sick. You can die from heat stroke," Meyer said. She recommends 50 ounces of fluid per 100 pounds of body weight for baseline hydration, increasing that by 10 to 25 percent in hot conditions involving physical activity. Alcohol and coffee do not count toward the total, she added, and can actually increase risk.

San Diego County logged nearly 200 emergency visits and hospitalizations related to heat illness in a recent year. Statewide, heat contributes to roughly 20 deaths annually.

With the National Weather Service forecasting another round of above-normal temperatures across inland San Diego County, health officials are urging hikers, cyclists, and outdoor workers to carry more water than they think they'll need, take regular breaks in shade, and check on neighbors — particularly the elderly and those without air conditioning.