The weather, she is getting cruel.
As the 103-degree temperatures bake your insides into something of an organ casserole, make sure you stay smart: D.C. Fire and Emergency Servics transported more than 200 people to the hospital by 7 p.m. yesterday, as citizens were struck with heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., EMS responded to 275 calls, and the majority were heat-related, said spokesman Pete Piringer.
Typically, D.C. Fire and EMS handles 400 to 425 calls in an average 24-hour period. “Our recent experience with ‘heat waves’ or extended periods of heat shows that we have a gradual increase in activity, usually amounting to 25 to 30 percent,” Piringer said. “This week is classic.”
On Monday, emergency responders handled 500 calls; on Tuesday, 505; and on Wedneday, 528, transporting more than 300 people to the hospital.
Drink water, stay in the shade, and get help if you or others begin showing signs of heat-borne illnesses.
