Erie hospitals treat patients with dehydration as temps pass 90 for third day

Erie hospitals are seeing the cumulative effect of this week's record-breaking heat wave.

UPMC Hamot has treated 20 patients with heat-related illnesses so far this week, while Saint Vincent has treated another eight. Eight of Hamot's patients arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, the third day of the heat wave.

"We're seeing people who are dehydrated, or suffering from heat exhaustion or heat cramping," said Jason Chenault, Hamot's senior director of emergency and critical care services. "Most of them are getting rehydrated with IV fluids and discharged, though some of them have been admitted."

Neither Saint Vincent nor Hamot has treated patients this week with heat stroke, a more serious illness, and no heat-related deaths have been reported to the Erie County Coroner's Office.

Temperatures rose to 91 at Erie International Airport on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Monday's high set a record for the date, while Tuesday's and Wednesday's highs each fell one degree short of the record.

It was the first time temperatures reached 90 at the airport on three straight days since Sept. 3-5, 2018.

"People's bodies are just not prepared to deal with this kind of heat this early in the year," said Dr. Chris Cammarata, Hamot's director of emergency medicine. "I worry about those who have to work outside for days in a row when the temperatures are this high."

Medications, age make older people more vulnerable to the heat

Cammarata also expressed his concern for older residents, some of whom might take medicines that either make them more vulnerable to hot weather, or prevent them from realizing they are overheated or dehydrated.

Others also might live on a fixed budget and don't have air conditioning, or can't afford to run their air conditioners nonstop.

"If you have an elderly neighbor, please check on them and check on their air conditioner," Cammarata said.

It's not just older people who struggle with high temperatures. Thomas Sherry, 64, was sweating profusely Thursday morning after he walked along Peach Street for nearly 20 blocks.

Sherry, who had spent the previous days of the heat wave cooling off at the Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, 1101 Peach St., said he was not allowed to go inside Thursday due to a disagreement.

Despite the hot weather, Sherry said things could be worse.

"It's much better than winter," Sherry said as he held a quart-size bottle of water.

The heat wave will slowly end this weekend as scattered showers and thunderstorms arrive in the region, according to a National Weather Service forecast. Highs are expected to reach the upper 80s Saturday, mid-80s Sunday and the upper 70s Monday.

Staff photographer Greg Wohlford contributed to this story.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNBruce.