In this Feb. 4 file photo, an EMSA ambulance runs on a call near 61st Street and Yale Avenue. While the highest temperatures and EMSA heat alerts might not be directly related, don't expect them in the middle of record snowstorms. TOM GILBERT/ Tulsa World File
Myth: The hotter it is, the more heat alerts we receive.
Emergency Medical Services Authority and their fearless medical personnel respond to many, many heat-related calls during the summer months. Not up for dispute.
The increase in heat-related calls comes during the warmer months of the year. Also not up for dispute.
But when I was speaking with an EMSA public information officer earlier this month about which days that the heat alerts were declared, I noticed something very interesting about the correlating temperatures on those dates: No correlation at all.
Heat alerts are declared by EMSA when there are at least five heat-related calls in the Tulsa area. As of July 18, EMSA's received more than 190 of these this summer, declaring its 20th heat alert on July 27.
Here is a table of each heat alert day as of July 27 this year, as well as the high temperature in Tulsa for each day according to the National Weather Service:
While many of the heat alert days had high temperatures, there are some notable dates missing, such as June's hottest day (June 27, 106 degrees) and some interesting inclusions (June 28, which not only had a 92-degree high, but we also received 0.06 of an inch of rain that day).
So, what can we draw from this? It's the decisions people make, regardless of the weather conditions, that result in these heat alerts.
That said, I'm sure spokesman Chris Stevens would appreciate if I shared EMSA's advice for making healthy decisions:
- Drink plenty of water
- Wear light colored/loose fitting clothing
- Find shade outside, or create your own by wearing a hat
- Avoid caffeinated, carbonated or alcoholic beverages
And get in air conditioning whenever possible! If you don't have access to air conditioning, here are several public cooling stations in Tulsa:
Tulsa County Social Services, 2401 Charles Page BlvdOpen 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. Fourth St.Open 12-9 p.m. every day
Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave.Open 24/7
Remember: It doesn't matter what the thermometer says. Heat-related illness can (apparently) strike whether its the 90s or the 100s. Make safe decisions this summer!
--Althea Peterson
