Hospitals On Alert As Dangerous Heat Wave Scorches Maryland
BALTIMORE (WJZ) --Hospital and emergency crews are on alert as potentially deadly weather conditions torture much of Maryland on Monday.
The Baltimore City Health Department declared a CODE RED Heat Advisory for Monday as the scorching heatwave make it feel like 109 degrees.
"Heat is a silent killer and a public health threat, particularly for the young, the elderly and those in our city who are the most vulnerable," said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said Sunday.
Many bodies were working in overdrive as they attempted to cool down. If you're not protected with proper hydration it could land you in the hospital.
"We've been seeing people who have been affected. Usually we do the first few weeks of the hot weather," said Dr. Jeff Sternlicht, chairman of emergency medicine, Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Last time we saw temperatures boil up this high was back in 2012, when 46 people in Maryland died from heat-related illnesses.
The city and county are taking precautions to make sure everyone can get relief:
COOLING CENTERS
The Mayor's Office of Human Services' Community Action Partnership will open the following cooling centers Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
- Northern Community Action Partnership Center: 5225 York Road, (410) 396-6084
- Southern Community Action Partnership Center: 606 Cherry Hill Road (inside the shopping center 2nd floor), (410) 545-0900
- Northwest Community Action Partnership Center: 3939 Reisterstown Road, (443) 984-1384
- Southeastern Community Action Partnership Center: 3411 Bank Street, (410) 545-6510
- Eastern Community Action Partnership Center: 1400 E. Federal Street, (410) 545-0136
The Baltimore City Health Department's Division of Aging and CARE Services will also open the following senior centers from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday:
- Waxter Center for Senior Citizens: 1000 Cathedral Street, (410) 396-1324
- Oliver Center: 1700 Gay Street, (410) 396-3861
- Sandtown-Winchester Senior Center: 1601 N. Baker Street, (410) 396-7724
- Hatton Center: 2825 Fait Avenue, (410) 396-9025 John Booth 2601 E. Baltimore St., (410) 396-9202
- Zeta Center: 4501 Reisterstown Rd., (410) 396-3535
Baltimore County libraries and senior centers are open to the public today, as well. Here are the full list of libraries and full list of senior centers.
SUMMER PROGRAMS CANCELED
Due to extreme heat, all Baltimore City school summer programs are canceled Monday. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to youth from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the following school sites:
- Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School (1401 W. Lafayette Avenue)
- Harford Heights Elementary School (1919 N. Broadway)
- Barclay Elementary/Middle School (2900 Barclay St.)
- Liberty Elementary School (3901 Maine Avenue)
- Mount Royal Elementary/Middle School (121 McMechen Street)
- Francis Scott Key Elementary School (1425 E. Fort Avenue)
- Collington Square Elementary/Middle School (1409 N. Collington Avenue)
- Robert W. Coleman Elementary School (2400 Windsor Avenue)
- Garrett Heights Elementary/Middle School (2800 Ailsa Avenue)
- Westport Academy School (2401 Nevada Street)
- Holabird Elementary/Middle School (1500 Imla Street)
- Arlington Elementary/Middle School (3705 W. Rogers Avenue)
- Callaway Elementary School (3701 Fernhill Avenue)
- Friendship Academy of Engineering and Technology (2500 E. Northern Parkway)
- Elmer A. Henderson: A Johns Hopkins Partnership Schoool (2100 Ashland Avenue)
- Green Street Academy (125 N. Hilton Street)
- Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (1400 Orleans Street)
- Carver Vocational-Technical High School (2201 Presstman Street)
POOLS EXTENDING HOURS
Baltimore City Recreation and Parks also announced that Baltimore City pools will operate on an adjusted schedule due to the Code Red Heat Alert. Admission to Baltimore City park pools is $2 per two-hour session and $1 per two-hour session for neighborhood walk-to pools.
NEIGHBORHOOD/WALK-TO POOLS will operate three (3) swim sessions:
- 12 - 2:00 p.m.
- 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
*Capacity: 100 swimmers per session
PARK POOLS will operate four (4) swim sessions:
- 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
- 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
- 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. or dusk
*Capacity: 300 swimmers per session
*Program schedules at Patterson and Lake Clifton Park Pools will remain the same
This is Baltimore City's second Code Red declaration of the season.
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