Passersby aid elderly woman overcome by heat

Woman treated and released

from hospital

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Police praised the work of neighbors and passersby Saturday afternoon when an elderly New Ulm woman was found lying face down on a sidewalk in the 1100 block of South Payne Street.

Charlotte Hesse, 91, of the Oak Hills Assisted Living Center, 1314 8th North, decided to go for a walk Saturday afternoon in the hot and humid weather that carried a heat index of over 100.

Police received a 911 call from Judi Nelson, 1025 S. Payne St., New Ulm, at 1:58 p.m. about a woman lying face down on the side walk.

The Brown County Law Enforcement Center dispatched an officer and called the New Ulm Medical Center to send an ambulance.

When the New Ulm Police Officer Julie Duehring arrived, she found the woman lying on her side and being tended to by several people, in a shaded lawn. Hesse was bleeding from her nose. Her skin was hot and dry.

Mark and Carol Portner, of New Ulm, noticed Hesse as they drove by. They stopped, and tended to her. Gayle and Andrea Hein, of New Ulm, got her ice and towels, along with Nelson, according to Duehring.

Hesse was given oxygen by the ambulance crew and taken to the hospital where she was treated and released.

"It could have been a deadly situation, if not for the citizens that saw her, helped her to the shade and called 911," said Duehring.

The incident is a powerful reminder that excessive heat and humidity can adversely affect people of all ages.

People need to be sure they drink lots of fluids, stay in the shade or get inside where there is air conditioning when the temperature and humidity get high, according to Pat Hartman of the NUMC Emergency Room.

When you move, your body gets warm. It keeps cooler by sending blood close to your skin, and by sweating.

When the temperature is above 90 degrees F., the humidity is high, or the sun is beating down on your head, it is hard to stay cool.

People can suffer heat cramps and exhaustion in extreme heat.

Heat stroke can cause brain damage and even death.

People usually sweat when they are hot.

When a person has heat stroke, there is no sweat. The skin becomes dry and hot. Other symptoms are a strong, fast pulse, very high temperature, (106-112 degrees F.), and confused, strange or angry behavior.

The person may feel chilled, nauseated or dizzy, and may become unconscious.

If the victim is not breathing, call 911 and use artificial respiration. Move the victim to a cooler area, preferably a cool bath. Use a fan and ice. Keep the victim lying down with raised feet.

In order to prevent heat stroke, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of cool water.