COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As high temperatures continue to affect Central Ohio residents this week, the number of heat related emergency calls the Columbus Division of Fire (CDF) has responded to has increased.
“It’s been incredibly hot,” Battalion Chief Jeffrey Geitter said.
Geitter shared heat related emergency run numbers with NBC4. From June 20 through the morning of June 26. CDF crews responded to 64 heat related calls with 41 of those involving a patient getting taken to the hospital.
“Definitely an uptick in those types of runs and not just the heat emergency. Some are dispatched as difficulty breathing. It has to do with the heat and so we’re seeing an increase overall in responses,” Geitter said.
He told NBC4 the division tracked numbers from Buckeye Country Superfest separately. There were at least 11 heat related emergency calls to that event, according to the report. With summer just getting underway, Geitter said it’s important people follow the health advice.
“Drink a lot of water early and often. For those that are working outside, you’re going to have to take some breaks and get out of the heat for a little bit. Don’t overdo it. Your health is more important than whatever you’re doing outside,” Geitter said.
A local emergency room doctor told NBC4 that emergency departments have been busy as well.
“I can tell you anecdotally there are a lot of very busy emergency rooms,” said Dr. Hussein Kashk, an emergency room physician with OhioHealth. “We have seen a lot patients coming to the emergency room for heat exhaustion and some of them actually ended up being pretty sick people.”
He also encouraged people to hydrate, take breaks when outside, and listen to their bodies.
“Fatigue, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, double blurred vision, those are pretty serious and you have to take it seriously and go drink some fluids,” Kashk said. “If you start having more persistent symptoms, get to the nearest emergency room.”
