Heat doubles firefighters call volume

SHORELINE, Wash. — As the thermometer goes up, so do calls to fire departments. To get a better idea of the work our first responders put in, Shoreline Fire Department invited KIRO 7′s Lauren Donovan to ride along with a paramedic.

Within minutes of arriving at Station 63 in North City, the first call came in. A 3-year-old in Woodinville fell out of a second-story window. Shoreline paramedic Gabe DeBay says this type of incident happens frequently when homes heat up.

“People have all their windows open and little toddlers, they think they can just sit up there and push that frame, and next thing you know they’re on the ground,” said DeBay.

The little one was lifted into an ambulance and taken to Harborview’s Trauma Center, where she’s expected to make a full recovery.

Roughly an hour after that, near Ingraham High School an elderly woman was feeling weak and losing consciousness.

“Anytime it’s an elderly person, their bodies can’t compensate and make up for the heat issues as quickly,” said DeBay.

According to the medical services officer, not all assisted-living facilities have air conditioning. That is why air movement is critical.

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