PORTLAND, Oregon — With a sudden jump in high temperatures on the way to the Portland metro area this weekend, the Multnomah County Health Department wants to make sure people are prepared to deal with the quick change in temperatures.
"Sometimes, these early heat events that happen early in the year are more severe because our bodies haven't acclimated to the heat yet," said Richard Bruno, health officer with Multnomah County.
Dr. Bruno said that over 20 people were admitted to emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses when the area saw its first heat wave in May 2023. Young children, the elderly and the homeless population are most susceptible to heat-related illnesses when temperatures increase.
"Heat exhaustion can be simply having excessive sweating; people may have rapid heartbeat or shallow breathing," explained Dr. Bruno. "They may get muscle aches or nausea or vomiting. You want to make sure you get people hydrated and in the shade pretty quickly if they start exhibiting any sign of heat exhaustion."
Blanchet House is one of the organizations gearing up to help Portland’s homeless population manage the heat. These kind of temperature swings even in the 80s can have a negative effect on their wellbeing, especially those with mental health challenges, substance-use disorders and chronic illnesses, said Scott Kerman, Blanchet House's executive director.
"We are worried about how it is going to affect people we serve; we are doing our best right now to collect as much water as we can so we can help people stay hydrated," Kerman said.
Multnomah County will decide on Friday whether cooling shelters will open their doors over for the high temperatures expected over the weekend. The Portland metro area is expected to hit its first 90-degree day of the year on Friday.