Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 14, 1995 TAG: 9508140118
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roanoke County firefighter Barry Hurley said 15 students were sent to Lewis-Gale Hospital, three to Community Hospital and two to Roanoke Memorial Hospital after showing signs of heat exhaustion, and in some cases, heat stroke. A couple of students were suffering from asthma attacks brought on by the heat and excitement.
The band set out from Ferrum College about 1 p.m., and within 30 minutes some students complained of weakness in their legs and feeling dizzy.
Bus driver Jerry Hostetter said the group stopped just south of Roanoke to get drinks at a gas station, and two students passed out. They were taken by ambulance to Roanoke Memorial.
The group of about 130 set out again for home and more students fell ill. The buses pulled into the Fort Lewis Fire Station No. 9 on U.S. 460 in west Roanoke County for help.
Hurley said the humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s created a dangerous heat index of 115 degrees.
The station's crew members set up a triage system to decide which students needed medical attention and took them to the hospitals. The crew made sure the remaining 100-plus students ate dinner and had plenty to drink.
Hurley said his department decided to keep the students at the station till sunset. The three school buses were parked inside the station to cool while students played video games and chatted with firefighters.
Hostetter said, ``I've been driving for [the band] for 15 years and never had this kind of problem.''
He added that all the windows on the buses were open and air was circulating. None of the buses is air-conditioned.
All of the students' parents were called and asked to pick up their children or expect a later arrival.
One parent, Brenda Callahan, showered the Fort Lewis crew with praise.
``I'd like to commend them for what they did,'' she said. ``They got these kids in here and got them medical attention. ... They're just great.''
Callahan was glad the bus drivers and Fort Lewis station members took care to keep the students out of the heat.
The band arrived at the Pulaski County High School about 8 p.m. Sunday with a rescue crew escort to ensure the safety of the students.
The high Sunday in Roanoke was 96, hot enough to demand one car being broken into to remove a baby.
Roanoke Police Sgt. W.G. Lucas said his department had several calls Sunday about children being left in cars.
One child, about a year old, was accidently locked in a car and was ``sweating profusely'' when police arrived to help, Lucas said.
The officer used a tire iron to break the car window and get the infant out. The child was not harmed, but Lucas said death does not take long in the heat.
``Within five to seven minutes a child can be critical,'' he said. ``And within the next five to seven minutes the child can be dead.''
Besides the obvious dangers of leaving children in cars, Lucas suggested residents take care to check on elderly friends and relatives who live alone. He said even if the person has air conditioning, it is important to make sure it is being used.
by CNB