It seems that the summer heat wave will continue through Friday as sizzling temperatures continue to soar into the 90s.

A heat wave with oppressive temperatures and stifling humidity lingered and intensified in the midsection of the country through last week and the weekend, and is expected to expand eastward as the week continues.

Crowds flocked to waterfronts and swimming pools on the U.S. East Coast and in the Midwest on Thursday to try to cope with a massive heat wave that has killed over 22 people.

In July, over 18 states had heat advisories, including North Dakota, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia and the Carolinas (where temperatures may exceed 100 degrees this week).

Things to do to escape the heat wave:

If you want to stay out of the sun altogether, take advantage of the heat and head indoors to a local museum to see that exhibit you've been meaning to see.

If you're looking for that summer tan, head to the nearest lake, beach, or pool; most likely you will not be the only one as pools and beaches are swarming with people on a hot summer day.

If you live in NYC, head to Chelsea Market where you can shop and eat in an air-conditioned old factory. It's a great place for snapping photos too, so don't forget your camera as this location has great architectural features.

Paint your roof: Painting black tar roofs with a white, solar-reflective coating is a low cost, quick and tangible way to reduce the risk of power grid 'brown-outs', save millions of dollars in energy costs, and curb climate change. In New York City alone, 12% of all surfaces are rooftops.

Content contributed by Reuters.

Lifesaving Heat Wave Safety Tips
Children push each other off a dock into the waters of Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, July 18, 2011. A heat wave with oppressive temperatures and stifling humidity lingered and intensified in the midsection of the country on Monday and was expected to expand eastward as the week continued. Reuters
Brooklyn borough of New York
A group of men lift a child into the stream of an open fire hydrant in the Brooklyn borough of New York July 22, 2011. The East Coast endured triple-digit temperatures on Friday, as authorities issued heat warnings and urged residents to take precautions and protect themselves from the scorching weather's dangers. Reuters
Washington
A mother and child use water bottles to squirt at each other while playing at a waterfall in Washington July 21, 2011. Crowds flocked to waterfronts and swimming pools on the U.S. East Coast and in the Midwest on Thursday to try to cope with a massive heat wave that has killed at least 22 people this week. Reuters
Washington Heights section of upper Manhattan
A dog leaps to catch water from an open fire hydrant as children cool off on 134th street in the Washington Heights section of upper Manhattan in New York City July 21, 2011. Temperatures were expected to reach near record levels Thursday as a heat wave spread east from the nation's midsection. Reuters
Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York
A child sits buried in the sand at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York July 21, 2011. Crowds flocked to waterfronts and swimming pools on the U.S. East Coast and in the Midwest on Thursday to try to cope with a massive heat wave that has killed at least 22 people this week. Reuters
Manassas, Virginia
Civil War Confederate chaplain reenactor Allen Farley of Appomattox, Virginia, holds a bottle of icy water on the neck of his wife Faith Farley as the heat wave hits Manassas, Virginia July 21, 2011. Thursday marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of First Manassas/Bull Run, the first major battle of the Civil War. Reuters
New York039s Times Square
A man walks past a screen that displays the weather forecast and temperature in New York's Times Square July 21, 2011. Temperatures were expected to reach near record levels Thursday as a heat wave spread east from the nation's midsection. Reuters
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