In broiling cities like New Orleans, the health system faces off against heat stroke

Amid relentless heatwaves, healthcare services in cities like New Orleans grapple with an increasing incidence of heat-related conditions.

Response efforts: New Orleans Emergency Medical Services has seen a surge in heat-related emergency calls this summer.
* The crews use air-conditioned ambulances to provide immediate relief to the patients by moving them out of the heat.

By the numbers: The city’s EMS dealt with 29 heat-related calls last week, three times the number compared to the same period a year ago.
* However, the department, currently operating with only 60% of the required staff, has been facing budget and staffing issues.

Health risks explained: Without timely intervention, high heat exposure can raise the human body’s core temperature, leading to heat exhaustion and progressing to heat stroke if not addressed.
* Once the body temperature exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit, hyperthermia can develop, leading to numerous health complications.
* Symptoms of heat exhaustion include weakness, dizziness, headache, and sweating. As the core body temperature nears 104 degrees, heat stroke can occur, entailing severe symptoms such as confusion, a fast, irregular pulse, and unconsciousness.

Treatment process: Emergency medical interventions aim at immediately reducing the body’s temperature.
* Health officials use ice packs, and potentially an ice water bath, to cool down patients and manage the body temperature while replenishing fluids. The treatment continues until the body temperature falls below 100 degrees.

Future implications: With increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves due to climate change, health infrastructures are likely challenged to treat more cases of extreme heat exposure.
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict a rise in such meteorological events.
* In New Orleans, the summer heat is expected to worsen, indicating high potential for increased heat-related illnesses.

View original article on NPR

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