Tulsa Doctors Urge Precaution As Deadly Heat Wave Continues - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

News

Tulsa Doctors Urge Precaution As Deadly Heat Wave Continues

Posted: Updated:
The deadly heat wave that's bearing down on Oklahoma has already set records for high temperature, water usage, and electricity use. The deadly heat wave that's bearing down on Oklahoma has already set records for high temperature, water usage, and electricity use.
Dr. Gardner says OSU Medical Center's Emergency Room is treating 10 to 15 patients a day with heat stroke. Dr. Gardner says OSU Medical Center's Emergency Room is treating 10 to 15 patients a day with heat stroke.
Emergency room doctors also say this weather can make allergies and respiratory diseases worse. Emergency room doctors also say this weather can make allergies and respiratory diseases worse.

Emily Baucum, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma – The deadly heat wave that's bearing down on Oklahoma has already set records for high temperature, water usage, and electricity use.

EMSA too has already broken its record for heat-related calls -- treating more than 230 people since June 1, 2011, and there's no relief in sight.

07/31/2011 Related Story: EMSA: 201 Patients Treated For Heat-Related Illness This Summer

News On Six is forecasting highs of up to 110 degrees this week. People around town say beating the heat just seems impossible.

"I don't remember a summer being this hot in Oklahoma and I've lived here all my life," said Tulsa resident Daniel Brooks. "Everybody I know has been staying indoors... I don't want to be indoors anymore. I want to go outside and do something."

"The big thing is fluid intake and try to limit exposure to heat as much as possible," said Dr. Gavin Gardner, OSU Medical Center.

Dr. Gardner says OSU Medical Center's Emergency Room is treating 10 to 15 patients a day with heat stroke.

"Most of these people are people who work outside in the heat," she said.

Others are kids who overdid playtime.

"Particularly elderly and children who have been exposed maybe in a home that hasn't been equipped with adequate air conditioning," Dr. Gardner said.

No matter who comes through the door, or why -- Dr. Gardner sees the same symptoms.

"Muscle cramps, nausea, dizziness," she said.

It's safe to say, no one wants to end up as a patient. So fill up a bottle, bring a jug to work or stop at water fountains -- just keep drinking water

Emergency room doctors also say this weather can make allergies and respiratory diseases worse. And so can some medications that don't mix well with extreme heat.

Special Features

Community Calendar

Find out what's going on around town and submit events!

Desktop Radar

Know when severe weather moves in, download the I-News Desktop Radar.

iPhone App

Get breaking news, weather, sports & video directly on your iPhone.

Mobile Alerts

Get breaking news, headlines, weather alerts & more on your cell phone.

TV Schedule

Need to know what's on TV? Check out our television schedule.

Live Radar

WARN Interactive
Powered by WorldNow
News On 6
303 N. Boston Ave
Tulsa, OK 74103
TULSA'S OWN TM
GREEN COUNTRY'S OWN TM
Oklahoma’s Own NewsOn6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state including Tulsa’s Own and Green Country’s Own.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.