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Cologne (NRT) – Ambulances arrive every minute, paramedics are called after a weekend, patients in a warm bath are showered on the hospital grounds. When BILD reporters reached the emergency department of the Cologne-Merheim hospital on Saturday afternoon, the situation was in a state of emergency. The thermometer shows almost 40 degrees… and it should be even hotter!
“We’ve never encountered a situation like this before,” says Hannah Makait, 39, medical director. “Just today we had to resuscitate five patients. On a normal day there are a maximum of two. Patients come to us from ten in the morning because of the heat.” Cologne firefighters had to go there on Friday. Residents of seven attic apartments collapsed take you to hospitals. Their lives were in danger due to overheating.
At an outside temperature of 30 degrees, the mortality risk for older people and people with cardiovascular disease doubles; from 37 degrees the body can hardly give off heat through the skin; At temperatures above this there is a risk of overheating even in the shade.
BILD reporter Dmitry Soibel talks with parcel delivery man Jürgen Vogel. The driver lost consciousness while working and was taken to the clinic
In the emergency room Cologne dehydrated patients are on IVs, beds are in the corridors, the wards have long been overcrowded. Due to the intense heat, it is not only the old and sick who are brought to the clinic. Even healthy men like DHL driver Jürgen Vogel (58) now have to walk along the corridor. hospital be put.
“I just fainted in the hallway.”
“My employer really cares about us,” a parcel delivery courier tells BILD. “Our cars have air conditioning and we get water. But with the constant driving in and out of the heat, my body suddenly couldn’t cope anymore. I just fainted in the hallway. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
DRC Volunteer District Manager Mönchengladbach Rene Hartmann (37) is one of many assistants caring for patients. A medical center was equipped for them in front of the clinic.
Twice as many doctors on duty
The extreme heat is also putting enormous strain on health workers and doctors. Help from the Red Cross, Samaritan Workers Association and the fire department intervened to deal with the situation. An additional temporary medical station was opened in front of the clinic. Here, patients are first examined to decide how they should be cared for in the future. Some assistants worked overtime for several days; instead of 20, up to 40 doctors are on duty. Many have given up their days off and are working extra shifts.
The emergency department in Cologne-Merheim has been in an emergency situation for several days now.
“Don’t play sports right now.”
And no improvement is expected in the next few days. That’s why Dr. Hannah Makait warns strongly: “We also have younger patients who need to be treated. Many people overestimate their strength and exercise in such heat. I can only urge everyone not to do this at this time.”