LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Community Ambulance has tackled a surge in 911 calls across the Las Vegas Valley, this summer, and a 235% rise in calls for seniors in distress.
Community Ambulance shared the statistics to compare 2023 to 2024.
⋅ June-July 2023: 47 heat-related calls (14 patients ages 60 and older)
⋅ June-July 2024: 89 heat-related calls (33 patients ages 60 and older)
Glen Simpson of Community Ambulance explains why the prolonged excessive heat from the summer greatly impacts the health of seniors.
“They may have underlying chronic health conditions. They may have medications that they take that affect their body temperature, and in turn, they have more heat-related illnesses,” Simpson said.
The Clark County Coroner said, through July, 63 people died from the heat. Of the 45 victims whose identity has been verified and next-of-kin notified, 32 of the deaths were people over 60-years-old; half of those seniors suffered an underlying condition of a form of heart disease.
Simpson said medics notice a troubling trend in the field: many 911 calls are made by seniors who are found alone in distress.
“Amongst our senior population, a lot of them tend to live by themselves, and may not have a system in place where a neighbor or even family checks in on them,” Simpson said. “They’re dealing with potentially some health conditions such as dementia: they may not realize that they’re in an environment that’s warmer,” Simpson said.
Simpson urges seniors to make sure they are somewhere indoors during the hottest times of the day, and to monitor their thermostats. He also has a message for caregivers, loved ones and fellow neighbors.
“Look out for one another. Look out for our vulnerable populations. Check in with the seniors, make sure that they’re doing good and make sure it’s a routine– not just a check-in once,” he said. Whether that’s a neighbor, whether it’s simply a phone call, be consistent and persistent to ensure that they’re in an okay space,” Simpson said.
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