Maryland’s recent heat wave sent hundreds of residents to emergency rooms and prompted a sharp increase in emergency medical service calls.
In an article from Maryland Matters, the Maryland Department of Health’s Weather-Related Illness Data Dashboard shows 473 heat-related emergency room and urgent care visits were reported during the week of June 28 through July 4, more than half of the 916 heat-related visits recorded since the heat season began in May. Emergency medical services also responded to 935 heat-related calls this summer, with roughly half occurring during the same week.
Prolonged triple-digit temperatures combined with high humidity can create dangerous conditions. From the Maryland Matters article:
“What made this heat wave so bad for people is that it was both very high temperatures and very high humidity,” said Dr. Cheyenne Falat, assistant medical director of the Adult Emergency Department at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. “That resulted in a lot of people coming in with heat illnesses all along the spectrum.”
Patients experiencing heat stroke require immediate cooling to reduce their core body temperature, often through specialized ice-water immersion treatment. Without rapid treatment, heat stroke can lead to organ failure or death.
Despite the spike in illnesses, the Department reported no additional confirmed heat-related deaths last week. Five heat-related fatalities have been recorded so far this season, though officials note additional cases remain under review by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
With Maryland’s heat season continuing through September, residents should try to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day, seek air-conditioned spaces when possible, and recognize early warning signs of heat illness, including thirst, muscle cramps, nausea, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Promptly moving indoors and rehydrating can help prevent more serious medical emergencies.
