Heat-related 9-1-1 calls are picking up at MedStar in Fort Worth.
“They’re complaining of shortness of breath, they’re sweaty, they just have no energy, they’re hot,” said MedStar dispatcher Becca Trinkle.
Whatever the reason for the call, patients outside in the heat get even higher priority, which sends an ambulance more quickly using lights and sirens.
“Maybe you’re having chest pains or you have a headache, but we’re going to worry about it a whole lot more to the extent that we’re going to get the system moving even faster,” said MedStar Medical Director Neal Richmond.
Paramedics are packing extra water for themselves and their patients, along with plenty of ice packs and IV fluids to cool them off quickly.
Each ambulance is equipped with extra air conditioners to keep the patient compartment cool.
“We can also direct all these vents toward the patient to cool them off quicker,” said MedStar paramedic Steve Lagarce.
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MedStar received more than 80 heat-related calls in June and has already received nearly half that number so far in July, even before the start of triple-digit temperatures.
