LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – As temperatures surpass triple digits in the Las Vega Valley, FOX5 looks at how first responders and doctors prepare for the valley’s hot summer months, and what they’re already seeing when it comes to heat exposure.
Sunrise Hospital Assistant Medical Director, Heber Philips, says they’ve already treated several people for heat exposure this year. Heat related illnesses have a wide spectrum, but they’ve already treated someone for heat stroke, he says.
As numbers climb into the 105 degree range, Phillips says the number of heat related cases the hospital sees starts climbing. To make sure they’re prepared, by about Mid-May they have large fans for evaporative cooling and ice packs ready to go in the ER.
When it comes to who is being treated for heat-related illnesses, Phillips says they often treat people who have addictions to drugs and therefore are more susceptible to the sun, or tourists who are not used to the heat.
“People who stay at the casinos and are just walking down on the strip, a lot of those people just don’t realize how hot it is and how dry it is, and they don’t drink enough water,” Phillips said.
Community Ambulance Senior Director Glen Simpson says they, too, see a lot of heat-related calls coming from around the strip.
“As we see more people come to our valley to visit, we tend to see an uptick in calls just along Las Vegas Blvd,” Simpson said. “People are out enjoying themselves at the pool, not realizing that they’ve been out there for hours.”
Simpson says since May, Community Ambulance has received about 60 calls for service for heat exposure. The number of calls over the first couple weeks of June is trending slightly down: 23 heat exposure calls in 2025, compared to 36 last year from about the same two weeks.
He says he thinks the dip could be due to the valley seeing a more gradual climb in temperatures this year, allowing people to better-acclimate to the heat.
Community Ambulance uses data from prior years to help inform their decision making on where to place ambulances in the valley, Simpson says.
For example, because they see a lot of heat-related calls near the strip, they’ll position more ambulances along the resort corridor, knowing they might be needed.
“We’re putting more ambulances closer to the strip, realizing that’s where we’re seeing more of our calls. We could be completely wrong, and the South end of the strip is where the calls are gonna be, but those are adjustments that we’re making throughout the day, each hour,” Simpson explained.
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