In parts of Tampa Bay, more people are going to the ER amid record heat

The emergency room staff at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital have extra cooling kits at the ready this year.

They include vests that circulate cool water over patients’ bodies, instant cold packs and refrigerated IV fluids. In extreme cases, staff are equipped to dunk over-heated patients in ice water baths.

Staff have gathered extra supplies to ensure they’re ready for patients suffering from heat illnesses during the hottest times of the day.

During May last year, which kicked off a summer that shattered heat records in the Tampa Bay area, three people came to that ER for heat illnesses.

This May, which also broke heat records, the number of patients seeking help for heat sickness skyrocketed to 21.

“I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I’ve never had to do this,” Melissa Bell, the vice president of emergency services, said of the logistical changes the ER made to address heat illness.

Summer’s hottest days are likely still ahead, but already emergency rooms across portions of the country and in Tampa Bay are seeing an increase in patients suffering from heat symptoms, according to emergency services data.

Last month, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties have reported higher-than-average EMS calls for heat illnesses, though Hillsborough County has experienced fewer than average. Last year, the Hillsborough responded to 275 heat sickness calls, about 60 more than average from the four years prior.

As temperatures climb and summers stretch longer from human-caused climate change, experts say the risk for heat-related sickness and death will grow.

Said Bell: “It does make me wonder what August is going to bring.”

Extreme temperatures take toll on people

Despite being known for hot summers, Tampa has never recorded a high temperature in triple digits.

While cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas often bake at temperatures of 110 or more, Tampa has topped out at 99.

However, Tampa’s heat is dangerous because it is coupled with what’s often lacking in those cities: humidity.

When a person sweats, heat is pulled away from the body, cooling them. When humidity levels are high, the air becomes saturated with water, and a person’s ability to cool lags.

“The biggest problem that most people don’t recognize is here in Florida, we have so much humidity that often sweating doesn’t work as well as it would in a low (humidity) environment,” said Dr. Patrick Mularoni, the medical director of sports medicine at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

The heat index, which records what it feels like outside when the air temperature is combined with humidity, shot above 105 degrees for 55 days in Tampa last year, breaking the previous record of 40 the year prior. Seventeen days this year have already crossed that threshold as of July 17.

Heat illnesses fall on a spectrum. A person may show up to the emergency room with minor symptoms like cramps or a heat rash. But in severe cases a patient may arrive with temperatures of 104 degree or more — typically considered a heat stroke.

Bell said some of the people who came to the Brandon ER with heat illness had jobs working outside or were doing chores like mowing the lawn when they got sick. Others were drinking alcohol while in the heat, which is a bad mix that can cause dehydration. One person had a body temperature of 108.

Those who spend long periods of time outside, like homeless people or outdoor workers, are most vulnerable to high temperatures. Children and older adults also are most sensitive to heat.

Though EMS calls and ER visits are increasing, there hasn’t yet been reported spikes in heat deaths in the Tampa Bay area. They have been historically rare, with only about a dozen occurring in the last seven years.

Tracking instances of heat-illnesses often requires a patchwork of medical or death records. It can take months or even years to fully understand the extent of heat’s toll on human health.

Despite last year’s record-breaking heat, no deaths were reported in Hillsborough County. Data for Pinellas and Pasco counties for 2023 is not yet available.

However, 84 people died in Florida from heat effects last year, the fourth most in the nation, according to an analysis of CDC data by the Associated Press.

In the United States more than 2,300 people had the effects of excessive heat mentioned on their death certificate last year, according to the analysis, the highest in 45 years.

Deaths associated with the heat are likely undercounted, experts say. Heat can contribute to complications with heart or respiratory diseases, but may not be recorded on a death certificate.

For every five degree increase in the heat index, there’s an increased risk of “acute kidney injury,” according to Roxana Chicas, a researcher and assistant professor at Emory University.

Chicas studies the effects of heat on central Florida farmworkers. These workers spend hours outside under Florida’s sun, often with few breaks.

“As temperatures rise ... farm workers are at an increased risk of not just acute kidney injury, but also heat-related mortality,” she said.

Jason Wilson, the chief of emergency medicine at Tampa General Hospital, said he has not seen more patients with heat sickness come through his ER this year, but he thinks efforts to educate the public about heat dangers might be prompting more people to play it safe.

He said people who are outside and start experiencing cramping or other symptoms should take the advice of doctors and get out of the heat.

“If you notice you’re getting hot, or even have a little bit of a red rash breaking out,” he said, “it’s probably time to go inside and cool off.”

How to prevent heat illnesses

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests staying inside an air-conditioned area as much as possible. However, if you need to be outside, take regularly scheduled breaks in the shade.

Experts suggest spending time outside during the coolest hours of the day, in the morning and at night. Access to water and hydration breaks are essential.

If you develop a rash, stomach cramps, head aches or nausea, get out of the sun and into a shaded area to cool down.

In most instances, getting to shade or inside an air conditioned place is safely sufficient. Doctors suggest shedding clothes to allow for more sweating. For additional cooling, place a wet towel on your neck or ice packs on your head and armpits. Throwing water on a person can also help.

If you notice someone acting differently or showing changes in their mental status, call 911 and cool them immediately.