Heat-related ambulance calls nearly double in central Mississippi during July
Heat-related medical emergencies in central Mississippi have nearly doubled in July compared to June, according to ambulance service data. Health officials are urging residents to take precautions against extreme temperatures, noting that the heat is affecting a wider demographic than previously observed.
Why it matters
The data highlights the increasing public health risks posed by prolonged extreme heat events and the strain on emergency medical services.
A prolonged stretch of extreme heat is leading to a sharp increase in heat-related medical emergencies across central Mississippi. According to American Medical Response, ambulance crews responded to 24 patients suffering from hyperthermia or heat illness in July, nearly double the 13 cases reported in June. The average age of patients treated for heat illness also dropped from 54 years old in June to 45 years old in July, indicating the dangerous temperatures are affecting a broader range of people. AMR officials said the numbers likely underrepresent the true impact of the heat because they only include patients transported or treated by ambulance crews.
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