EDMOND —
Sweltering summer heat is causing medical issues for humans and our four-legged friends, Edmond officials said.
Above-normal temperatures will continue to affect a large portion of the country from the northern Plains to the mid-Atlantic over the next few days, with high temperatures today in the 90s to 100 degrees-plus for many locations in these areas, according to the National Weather Service.
Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for many of the affected areas.
At 2:53 p.m. Monday, the temperature at the Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport was 91 degrees, a break from recent highs near or above 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Highs will increase from near 95 on Tuesday and near 98 on Thursday to near 99 on Friday. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will be near 100.
Last week, the Edmond Fire Department responded to a heat-related call on Thursday in the zero block of North Bradbury Drive. Edmond Fire Maj. Kelly Lewis said a 24-year-old male was working outside when he became overheated. After being treated at the scene he was transported to Edmond Integris hospital, Lewis said.
At 7:09 p.m. Wednesday, personnel responded to the 1300 block of East 33rd Street, where people were fanning a 37-year-old male, Kelly said. He did not require transport to a medical facility.
At 9:20 a.m. on June 26, EMSA responded to a call involving a patient who was loaded into an ambulance, Lewis said. No further information was available about that incident.
At about 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Edmond dispatch received a call from a passerby who spotted a dog in a car with cracked windows, Edmond Police Capt. Nicki Smith said.
A police officer and an animal welfare officer responded, Smith said. After attempts to locate the owner failed, the dog was rescued from the car, cooled at the scene and taken to an animal clinic, Smith said. At the clinic, the dog’s temperature was still 103 degrees. The veterinarian said if it had been a smaller dog it likely would have died, Smith said.
It was a unique situation since in most similar cases a person would be cited for animal cruelty, Smith said. Smith said a decision was made to not cite the 19-year-old owner for animal cruelty. The dog has been reunited with its owner.
“She didn’t think they’d be gone for that long,” said Smith, who urged pet owners to leave their animals at home during the hottest days.
In related news, the city’s animal shelter is currently so full that cats and dogs are being housed in the facility’s garage. They include pregnant cats about to give birth, said shelter specialist Chelsea Young. The shelter also has about 20 kittens in one room alone, Young said.
Smith said the shelter cannot decline to take in animals.
In other weather-related news a blistering final week and a return to drought transformed June from a mildly hot month into a scorcher, rekindling memories of the brutal 2011 summer, said Gary McManus, associate state climatologist with the Oklahoma Climatological Survey.
Temperatures routinely reached triple-digits across Oklahoma during the month’s final week, McManus said. According to data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, the statewide average temperature finished at 79.2 degrees to rank as the 19th warmest June on record, 2.7 degrees above normal. Statewide average records date back to 1895.
For more information about the City of Edmond’s animal shelter, call 216-7615 or visit www.edmondok.com and click on “City Services, “Services H-Z,” “Public Safety,” “Police Department” and “Animal Welfare.” The site has details about adopting a pet, cats and dogs available for adoption, the city’s fostering program and how to volunteer at the shelter.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108
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