Guilford County EMS sees rise in heat-related calls as temperatures climb

Heat-related calls in Guilford County jumped from five in one week to ten the next, and EMS officials said the climb was still heading upward as the Triad stayed under high temperatures. County leaders responded with a June 10 heat safety warning telling residents to drink water, get into air-conditioned spaces, cut back outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day and never leave children or pets in vehicles.

The increase matters beyond a busy week on the radio, because Guilford County EMS is the county’s sole provider of paramedic-level pre-hospital care. When heat illness rises, the strain lands directly on the same crews that answer emergencies across Greensboro, High Point and the rest of the county.

Scott Muthersbaugh with Guilford County EMS said heat emergencies can become fatal, and the people most at risk include older adults, children and people without permanent housing. County officials also warned that residents with underlying health conditions need extra caution, especially during prolonged stretches of high temperatures.

The warning signs can escalate quickly. Muthersbaugh said residents should watch for loss of consciousness, confusion, extreme dizziness and reduced sweating. The National Weather Service lists dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, rapid pulse, heavy sweating and hot red skin as signs that require immediate medical attention. If those symptoms appear, emergency help should be sought right away.

Certain medications can make the danger worse. Muthersbaugh said diuretics and some cardiac drugs can interfere with hydration or the body’s response to heat, leaving people more vulnerable even during routine errands, yardwork or time spent outside. County officials said the safest response is simple but urgent: keep drinking water, take breaks, stay in air conditioning and never assume that being near water means the body is hydrated.

For residents who do not have reliable cooling at home, Guilford County’s Continuum of Care has assembled a summer 2026 list of cooling stations across the county. That access matters in a place where state health officials say most of North Carolina is projected to see at least two or three extra weeks of days at 95 degrees or higher.

The current spike also fits a pattern. FOX8 reported a similar uptick in heat-related EMS calls in Guilford County on June 24, 2025, suggesting the county is facing a recurring public health threat, not a one-time surge. As temperatures climb, the difference between a safe afternoon and an ambulance call may come down to water, shade, air conditioning and acting on symptoms before they turn severe.