Dawson County residents flocked to the shade and took to the pool or lake last week as temperatures approached an unseasonal 100 degrees in northeast Georgia.

Erin Dreger and her cousins, Hannah and Trey Reser, decided to fill up the "kiddie pool" on Friday for a dip.

Dreger got some sun, while the 4- and 2-year-olds splashed in the water.

"It's been so hot outside," said Dreger, an Illinois native. "We thought we'd come out here and cool off. I mean, it is really, really hot."

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City agreed.

Forecaster Robert Beasley said last week's temperatures were 15 degrees higher than those typical for this time of year.

"Most of the area averaged in the low- to mid-90s," Beasley said. "A normal high for the area [in early June] is around 82 degrees."

Beasley added that the lingering heat wave is more typical of mid-July and early August, "but it's well above normal for that time of year as well."

Beasley said the National Weather Service does not expect the heat to subside anytime soon.

"We're not anticipating any extreme heat like we saw late last week, but we're not looking for any cooling either," he said. "There's nothing to drive any cool air here right now."

That's OK with Erin and Hannah Reser, so long as they have their pool.

The children splashed each other with water Friday. Trey pointed to a flying insect circling the tiny pool.

"A wasp!" he shouted.

Erin said "other than all the wasps," it was the best way they could find to enjoy the blue skies while staying cool.

Public safety officials were reminding residents that it's important to keep a watch on children when the temperatures spike.

According to Dawson County Emergency Services Chief Lanier Swafford, about 38 children nationwide die from heat stroke each year after being left alone in hot cars.

In more than 50 percent of these cases, an adult forgot to take the child out of the car when they left the vehicle.