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8 <br /> Persons taking certain medications: <br /> Some medications may make individuals more susceptible to heat. <br /> People with underlying health conditions: <br /> Those with underlying health conditions may be less likely to sense and `K - <br /> respond to changes in temperature.In addition,they may be taking <br /> medications that can make the effects of extreme heat worse. <br /> Unhoused People: <br /> Unhoused people are exposed to heat more so than almost any other <br /> group,as they do not have air-conditioned spaces to escape to during <br /> heat season.This makes them more susceptible to heat-related health <br /> conditions. Snapshot:2025 Heat Season <br /> Older adults(60+): Orange County Emergency Management Services(EMS)experienced its <br /> Older adults do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in highest volume of heat-related illness calls since 2019 during the 2025 <br /> temperature.In addition,they are more likely to have a chronic medical heat season(April through October).The majority of these responses <br /> condition that changes normal body responses to heat.Older adults involved symptoms of heat stress,including heat exhaustion,fainting, <br /> are also more likely to take prescription medicines that may affect the dizziness,general weakness,and dehydration. <br /> body's ability to regulate temperature or sweat. <br /> Athletes: While most calls involved heat exhaustion,EMS responded to nineteen <br /> People who exercise or spend time outdoors in extreme heat are more cases of the far more serious condition,heatstroke.Heatstroke is a <br /> likely to become dehydrated and get a heat-related illness.This includes life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate attention <br /> both adult and youth athletes. to prevent permanent organ damage or death.Of all the patients <br /> treated by EMS during this period,nine required immediate transport <br /> to medical facilities using lights and sirens due to the severity of their <br /> condition.The overall number of heat emergencies saw a significant <br /> spike on 7/7/2025,the very hot and humid day that followed Tropical <br /> Storm Chantal. <br /> Number of Orange County EMS Heat Emergencies <br /> 80 ;0 <br /> 69 <br /> 70 <br /> 63 <br /> w 60 <br /> 51 50 49 <br /> � 50 <br /> m <br /> E 41 <br /> w <br /> v 40 <br /> m <br /> 0 <br /> 7 <br /> z 20 <br /> 10 <br /> 0 <br /> 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 <br /> Year <br /> Figure 1.Orange County EMS received more calls for heat-related illness in the 2025 heat season than in the five preceding years,with 25 more heat- <br /> related illness calls recorded in 2025 than in 2024. <br /> 6 <br />