Scorcher!: Sizzling temperatures send dozens to hospitals

• Published in: Knight Ridder Tribune Business News p. 1
• Main Author: Ben Schmitt and Kathleen Gray
• Format: Newsletter
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Tribune Content Agency LLC 30.05.2006
• Subjects: Emergency medical care; Heat; Memorial Day; Parades; Veterans; Weather

May 30--Memorial Day 2006 was a day to remember, all right. Not only because of the ceremonies honoring the nation's veterans, but because of the stifling heat that had parade marchers fainting, heat weary residents rushing to area hospitals and the mercury flirting with a May 29 record. Even the FBI's hunt for Jimmy Hoffa appeared to ground to a semi-halt in the punishing sun. The 92-degree high recorded at 4:38 p.m. Monday didn't break the record but matched the mark set in 1987, according to the National Weather Service in White Lake Township. Meteorologist Bill Deedler said relief is in sight. The temperatures will be in the high-80s today and dip back to the mid-70s by Thursday. In Roseville, 27 people passed out, including eight people taken to area hospitals after the Roseville Memorial Day parade. All but one of the heat-afflicted were members of the marching bands from Roseville High School and Eastland Junior High School. They had just finished marching and playing along the 1-mile parade route in their heavy band uniforms and were waiting for the official Memorial Day ceremony to begin at Roseville City Hall. "They all started passing out just before they started playing the National Anthem," said Lt. Robert Ebenhoeh of the Roseville Fire Department. "Some of them made it through the song, but most didn't." Seven band members and a 53-year-old member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who also marched in the parade, were taken to area hospitals, where they were treated and released, said Ebenhoeh. The rest were treated at the scene and released to their parents. Area hospitals reported that a handful of people visited emergency rooms Monday for treatment of heat exhaustion, including at least four at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.