Teens Collapse in Dangerously Hot Weather

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - A softball tournament in north St. Paul had to be cancelled early after four teens collapsed in the extreme heat Sunday afternoon.

Emergency room doctors say they expect more heat-related illness over the next few days.

Even with plenty of water on hand, the heat just proved to be too much Sunday afternoon for some players at McKnight Field.

Four 16-year-old girls collapsed in heat exhaustion. Gus Tarr is with the North Saint Paul Athletic Association. He says nurses rushed on the field with cold packs, water and ice to cool the girls down. All the teens are expected to be OK, but three were taken by ambulance to the hospital and another was driven to the emergency room.

"We decided to cancel the whole tournament," said Tarr. "The players are the most important thing we didn't want anymore players to go down."

Emergency Room doctors believe with the heat wave extending late into the week, more people will end up in the ER with heat related illnesses.

The other problem Doctor Jim Minor says is this heat is not typical and it takes a while for our bodies to adjust.

Hot Weather Health Tips

HCMC health professionals want to remind everyone that the best way to avoid heat-related medical problems is to:

1. Stay cool – if you don’t have air conditioning in your home, go to a shopping mall, restaurant, library or movie theater to stay cool and use fans if necessary.
2. Drink plenty of water (even if you’re not thirsty!). Avoid drinking alcohol.
3. Check on elderly friends and family members or those who have health concerns to make sure they are adequately hydrated and cared for.
4. Avoid heavy exercise – especially during the hottest times of the day.
5. Seek medical attention if you have these signs of hyperthermia: confusion, inability to perspire, combativeness, fainting, rapid pulse, flushed skin, delirium.