Due to the high temperatures that are recorded in the Rio Grande Valley, emergency teams have already received several calls from people who have suffered heat stroke, which is why it is of the utmost importance not to ignore the recommendations of the authorities.
“It’s very hot and people aren’t used to it right now,” explains Dany Ramírez, Pharr’s emergency team leader. Doing any type of activity when temperatures are extremely high can be dangerous.
“In the last month we have had four calls reporting heat stroke. The first thing we do is put them in the ambulance and we check their hearts, we give them a cool serum to lower their temperature, we give them medicines and we take them to the hospital” says Ramirez.
Heat stroke is a dangerous illness in which body temperature can rise above 106 degrees Fahrenheit in minutes. “We are talking about it being a life or death situation,” said Juan Angel Gloria, McAllen Fire Commander. Commonly this occurs in people who work abroad. In addition, the elderly and children are also vulnerable to heat stroke.
“It’s very common for our paramedics and our firefighters to respond to that type of call,” says the McAllen Fire Commander.
When a person is suffering from heat stroke, it is important to “call 911, take them to a place where there is shade or where there is air conditioning. We need to lower their body temperature. If they can put them in a bathroom with cold water,” says Ramírez . To avoid having to take these measures, prevention is important.
Symptoms of heat stroke are dizziness, headache, and cramps. In addition to the fact that the skin is going to be very hot and the pulse is going to be accelerated. If you think you may have this disease, do not wait for symptoms to escalate and call 911 immediately.
