‘I don’t think people have acclimated.’ Fort Worth summer heat sends hundreds to hospitals
Summer’s scorching temperatures are sending hundreds of people in Fort Worth to the hospital for heat-related illnesses, according to data from MedStar.
The emergency services provider, which responds to 911 medical calls in Fort Worth and 14 surrounding cities, has transported 234 people to the hospital for heat-related illness since May, according to their records. Of those, 14 have been critical.
Those numbers are about on par with the same time period last summer, said Matt Zavadsky, MedStar spokesperson. As North Texas prepares for still more days of triple-digit temperatures, Zavadsky cautioned residents to take into account the heat index, or the “feels like” temperature, before spending time outside.
Highs for the next week are expected to top 100, except for Sunday when it will be 96.
“I don’t think people have acclimated yet,” he said. “I think we’re going to continue to see this kind of volume.”
Most of the emergency calls have been concentrated in the heart of Fort Worth, according to a map of the most common locations for heat-related 911 calls to MedStar.
Emergency workers have also responded to five reports of children left in hot cars. Of those children, two were transported to a hospital for treatment. Child safety experts with Cook Children’s Health Care System have said that it is never OK to leave a child unattended in a car, even if the window is down.
“Heatstroke in children can happen in minutes, not hours,” Dr. Meena Guirguis, an emergency department doctor with Cook Children’s Medical Center in Prosper, said in a news release. “If you see a child left in a vehicle, call 911 immediately.”
Experts encourage parents or caretakers to put something in the back of your car next to the child, like a shoe, a purse, or a cell phone, especially on days when your regular routine has changed, according to Cook Children’s.
This story was originally published July 13, 2023 at 2:27 PM.
