AUSTIN, Texas — Record-breaking heat is almost always accompanied by new records for the most heat-related illnesses.
The months of June and July have set back-to-back records for the number of heat-related calls Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) workers have taken.
There's no indication that temperatures will dip below 100 degrees any time soon, with heat indices consistently topping 110 degrees on some days. And with the heat showing no signs of subsiding, ATCEMS said the number of calls it is receiving is at an all-time high.
"We ended June with 234 heat-related calls. You compare that to June of last year, which was 159," said Captain Christa Stedman with ATCEMS.
On July 19 alone, ATCEMS reported 176 heat-related calls. By Friday, July 21, that number had already jumped to around 202.
Stedman said ATCEMS is also focused on taking care of the medics themselves.
Right now, ATCEMS has a 23% employee vacancy rate, according to the Austin EMS Association.
"We're really making great strides, but that doesn't change that there's been an increase in call volume. So our medics are working harder, they're running more calls," Stedman said.
Selena Xie, president of the EMS union, said it's been a priority of theirs to make sure medics are checking in with themselves.
"Not only do we have fewer ambulances on the street, they're also working harder because of the higher call volume. So it's been a very tough summer," Xie said. "We've certainly had providers that have had difficulties in this heat and working for as long as they have and so I just really want them to be taking care of themselves first."
For medics and Texans alike, there are signs to look out for.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- fainting
- excessive sweating
- nausea
- muscle cramps
Heat stroke, however, can be much more dangerous. It can come with no sweating and potentially a loss in consciousness.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion
"It truly is a time sensitive, life threatening medical emergency. You know, if heat stroke isn't reversed quickly, it results in permanent damage to the brain or other organs and eventually death," Stedman said. "You need to move to a cooler place. Start rehydrating if you're vomiting. Don't try to chug a bottle of Gatorade or anything, just small sips of water, and just cool yourself down as best you can so that you don't progress into heat stroke."
As a number of records have already been broken, both Stedman and Xie believe concern is warranted with August heat right around the corner.