By George H. Newman
Tampa Tribune
PLANT CITY, Fla. — Ambulance crews were kept busy during the Florida Strawberry Festival.
Plant City Fire Rescue answered 649 calls during the festival, including 40 patients who were transported to the hospital. Another 60 patients declined transport against medical advice.
Two people died after a suspected cardiac arrest or stroke, Fire Rescue EMS Chief Jim Wilson said.
Of the 40 patients transported to the hospital, four were considered critical. One had a severe head injury from a trip and fall; one a fractured hip; one died from an apparent cardiac arrest; and one apparently died from a stroke.
“One of the victims was inside an exhibit hall at the festival, suddenly became ill and collapsed,” Wilson said. “It was first thought that the patient had fainted but our paramedics quickly determined it was much more serious than that. The patient suffered a fairly significant stroke.”
He was transported to South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City, then flown to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, where he died.
The second fatality, the suspected cardiac arrest, fell on Oak Street, just outside the festival grounds. The patient was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a bystander until medical crews arrived. Paramedics were unable to revive the patient.
“The remaining 36 ... patients were transported for various illnesses including heat-related problems, allergic reactions and asthma,” Wilson said.
Festival officials estimated they had 40,000 to 80,000 visitors each day during the 11-day festival.
“When you have that many people in one place at the same time it’s like a densely populated city,” Wilson said. “You expect to respond to a gamut of medical and traumatic emergencies.”
Each day, there were 15 to 20 emergency medical personnel at the festival, including at three first aid stations, Wilson said.
“Many of our contacts with patients involved dehydration. People too often think that a soda or energy drink is going to keep them hydrated. That is not the case.
“Sugar and caffeine prevent the body from absorbing water in a way that will prevent dehydration. Many of the people we saw recovered at our first aid station after taking water and resting out of the sun.”
Copyright 2011 The Tribune Co. Publishes The Tampa Tribune