Circle the City, a nonprofit organization in Phoenix, has introduced a new program to provide IV rehydration to homeless individuals living in extreme heat conditions. The program aims to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths as temperatures regularly soar in the triple-digits in the area.
Last year, nearly half of the 645 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County, which includes metro Phoenix, were among homeless individuals. Dr. Liz Frye, vice chair of the Street Medicine Institute, highlighted the importance of providing necessary medical care, even if it means administering IVs on the street.
In cities across the country, health care providers are facing the challenge of protecting homeless patients from extreme weather conditions. In Boston, for example, where temperatures reached 100 degrees with high humidity, medical teams are now seeing more cases of heat exhaustion among homeless individuals.
In Phoenix, Circle the City’s street medicine team actively searches for patients in homeless encampments to provide necessary care, including wound care, medication refills, and IV hydration. The organization also offers respite care with 100 beds for homeless individuals recovering from hospital stays.
With extreme heat becoming a global issue, organizations like Circle the City are working to ensure the health and safety of homeless populations during the sweltering summer months. By providing essential medical services and education on hot weather dangers, they are striving to make a difference in the lives of those most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.
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