As we try to understand how we as a city can better deal with a heat wave in the future, let’s not forget the thousands of health-care workers–nurses, paramedics, doctors, technical and support staff–as well as the members of the police and fire departments–who worked back-breaking hours to care for the sick and injured.
In 1994 Chicago-area hospitals reported more than 2.3 million emergency-department visits–about 6,500 a day. During the recent heat wave, the number of emergency patients increased up to 50 percent; at many hospitals, all emergency-department beds were filled to capacity, as were beds in medical and intensive-care units. Several hospitals, affected by power outages, ran on auxiliary power.
The citizens of Chicago owe many thanks to the men and women whose heroics saved thousands of lives and helped the metropolitan area through this crisis.
