St. John Ambulance members were especially busy dealing with heat relative issues at the Cobourg Waterfront Festival.
Deputy Chief Erin Cann of Northumberland St. John Ambulance said members started on Saturday morning and were “extremely busy” working throughout until Monday.
Members of St. John Ambulance treated dozens of people over the course of the three day festival. Most were heat related issues. Of those, the majority were seniors with other medical issues.
Cann has been associated with St. John Ambulance for three years and also volunteers for Ribfest and said this is “by far” the busiest year.
There were approximately eight people on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for 12 hours starting at 10 a.m.
The normal core temperature fluctuates from 36.1 to 37, but anything over 38 is a fever situation and their core body temperature is to high.
To get it to come back down is a process that takes time,” said Cann.
“The line between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Once you hit heat stroke you’re in dangerous territory.”
“Some of the temperatures we were taking were just under heat stroke.”
St. John Ambulance first assess to the patient to see what their core temperature is which indicates how serious the patient is and whether they need to be transferred to hospital.
“The normal first complaint is they are not feeling well or we have had four or five leaning over, or sitting down disoriented as a result of the extreme heat.”
Cann said the communication between Cobourg By-Law, Cobourg Police and Kawartha Guard Security has been essential locating victims.
“It’s been great working down here with everybody.”
A number of people came to the St. John Ambulance booth located on the west side of the bandshell in Victoria Park.
If there were the number of people that usually attend the Waterfront Festival, Cann it would have stretched the resources of emergency workers.
Of the 30 people treated, four were taken by ambulance to hospital because of additional medical factors.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
