Heat-Related Illnesses Causing Record Number Of Calls To Metro Paramedics

First responders are handling record numbers of calls with this terrible heat. Since May, EMSA has had more than 120 calls for help involving heat-related illnesses.

Thursday, July 16th 2015, 6:43 pm

By: News 9


First responders are handling record numbers of calls with this terrible heat. Since May, EMSA has had more than 120 calls for help involving heat-related illnesses.

One Oklahoma City woman suffered heat exhaustion inside her home. Karen Stroud said she did not realize the temperature inside her house had reached 85 degrees.

“This is just crazy to me, I've never went through this situation before,” Stroud said.

Stroud is back at home after heat exhaustion sent her to the hospital on Monday.

On the 911 call, you can hear Stroud say, “I was cleaning my carpet and I got overheated and started pouring a lot of sweat. It’s so hot that I’ve just been sweating all day.”

Stroud was going through heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke. She nearly passed out.

“I started getting a real bad headache and started getting dizzy and gasping for air and just shaking,” Stroud told News 9.

The 51-year-old also takes several medications which can lower the body's threshold to compensate for the heat.

“I was pouring down with sweat. I just kept pouring down with sweat more and more and more,” she explained. “I could have died from the heat exhaustion in my house.”

EMSA cooled her off and gave her fluids, but her high blood pressure meant a hospital visit.

“Heat exhaustion can kill you whether you are working on a roof, whether you are sitting inside a house with no air conditioning or only a little bit of air conditioning or sitting in a hot car,” said Frank Gresh with EMSA. 

“It's going to kill you no matter where you are, so you've got to pay attention to what your body is telling you.”

Stroud now realizes her small air conditioning unit is no match for this heat. She is trying to take it easy, enjoy her grandkids and not do so much around the house.

“Be careful out here and stay cool and drink plenty of fluids,” Stroud said.

EMSA said it takes absolutely nothing to have heat exhaustion or heat stroke inside a home, especially with these temperatures we are experiencing.

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